Background and aims: This study aimed to test the hypothesis that visfatin is associated with atherosclerosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Methods: In the study, we measured serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and the following blood markers of endothelial function and inflammation: endothelin-1 (ET-1), nitric oxide (NO), thrombomodulin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in 117 patients with CKD stage 4 or 5 and in 50 normal controls. Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) was assessed by high-resolution brachial ultrasonography, and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was determined by vascular ultrasound. Plasma visfatin concentrations were measured by ELISA.
Results: Compared with healthy controls, endothelial dysfunction was observed in all CKD patients. Visfatin levels were strongly correlated with hsCRP levels, serum triglyceride levels and LDL cholesterol levels, and negatively correlated with HDL cholesterol, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and FMD levels in the CKD patients (p<0.05, for all). Moreover, carotid IMT was found to be significantly related to visfatin levels (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Overall, the study showed that in CKD patients, higher visfatin levels are associated with decreased GFR, increased serum triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels and impaired endothelial function. Moreover, visfatin levels also correlated with hsCRP levels and carotid IMT, suggesting that visfatin may play an important role in uremia-related atherosclerosis.