International Journal of Nephrology and Renovascular Disease (Dec 2022)
Uric Acid, Ferritin, Albumin, Parathyroid Hormone and Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase Concentrations are Associated with Uremic Cardiomyopathy Characteristics in Non-Dialysis and Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Abstract
Grace Tade,1,* Hon-Chun Hsu,1,2,* Angela J Woodiwiss,1 Ferande Peters,1 Chanel Robinson,1 Noluntu Dlongolo,3 Gloria Teckie,4 Ahmed Solomon,5 Gavin R Norton,1 Patrick H Dessein1,5,6 1Cardiovascular Pathophysiology and Genomics Research Unit, School of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 2Nephrology Unit, Milpark Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa; 3Rheumatology Unit, Rosebank Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa; 4Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 5Rheumatology Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; 6Internal Medicine Department, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Patrick H Dessein, Departments of Medicine, Rheumatology and Physiology, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannnesburg, 2193, South Africa, Tel +27 662491468, Email [email protected]: Circulating uric acid, ferritin, albumin, intact parathyroid hormone and gamma-glutamyl transferase each participate in biochemical reactions that reduce or/and enhance oxidative stress, which is considered the final common pathway through which pathophysiological mechanisms cause uremic cardiomyopathy. We hypothesized that the respective biomarkers may be involved in the development of uremic cardiomyopathy characteristics and can be useful in their identification among chronic kidney disease patients.Methods: We assessed traditional and non-traditional cardiovascular risk factors including biomarker concentrations and determined central systolic blood pressure using SphygmoCor software and cardiac structure and function by echocardiography in 109 (64 non-dialysis and 45 dialysis) patients. Associations were evaluated in multivariate regression models and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.Results: Each biomarker concentration was associated with left ventricular mass beyond stroke work and/or inappropriate left ventricular mass in all, non-dialysis and/or dialysis patients. Ferritin, albumin and gamma-glutamyl transferase levels were additionally associated with E/e’ in all, non-dialysis and/or dialysis patients. Dialysis status influenced the relationship of uric acid concentrations with inappropriate left ventricular mass and those of gamma-glutamyl transferase levels with left ventricular mass and inappropriate left ventricular mass. In stratified analysis, low uric acid levels were related to inappropriate left ventricular mass in dialysis but not non-dialysis patients (interaction p=0.001) whereas gamma-glutamyl transferase concentrations were associated with left ventricular mass and inappropriate left ventricular mass in non-dialysis but not dialysis patients (interaction p=0.020 to 0.036). In ROC curve analysis, uric acid (area under the curve (AUC)=0.877), ferritin (AUC=0.703) and albumin (AUC=0.728) concentrations effectively discriminated between dialysis patients with and without inappropriate left ventricular hypertrophy, left ventricular hypertrophy, and increased E/e,’ respectively.Conclusion: Uric acid, ferritin, albumin, parathyroid hormone and gamma-glutamyl transferase were associated with uremic cardiomyopathy characteristics and could be useful in their identification. Our findings merit validation in future longitudinal studies.Keywords: uremic cardiomyopathy, uric acid, ferritin, albumin, parathyroid hormone and gamma-glutamyl transferase
