Objectives: To elucidate main risk factors contributing to development of cardiovascular pathology at the predialysis stage of chronic glomerulonephritis.
Materials and methods: We examined 173 patients (90 men, 83 women, age 15-70, mean age 36.8+/-12.9 years) at predialysis stage of chronic glomerulonephritis. Cardiovascular pathology (coronary heart disease, disturbances of cardiac rhythm, left ventricular hypertrophy, chronic heart failure) was found in 88 patients. Clinical examination included history taking, physical examination with measurement of blood pressure BP and anthropological parameters, laboratory and instrumental investigation for diagnosis verification. Biochemical parameters studied were blood serum levels of cholesterol (Ch), high-density lipoprotein Ch, low-density lipoprotein Ch, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, total protein, and creatinine. ECG and echocardiography were also performed.
Results: Presence of cardiovascular pathology was associated with higher concentration of calcium in blood serum (1.7+/-0.6 vs. 1.4+/-0.5 mmol/l, p<0.05), anemia with lower hemoglobin content, number and volume of erythrocytes, higher creatinine (150 [76-179]) vs. 100 [70-117] mcmol/l; p<0.05) and lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (80 [41-104] vs. 100 [69-122] ml/min; p<0.05).
Conclusion: Main factors, contributing to development of cardiovascular pathology in patients at the predialysis stage of chronic glomerulonephritis were anemia, hypercalcemia, and lowering of GFR with increased serum creatinine.
Keywords: anemia; cardio-vascular pathology; chronic glomerulonephritis; glomerular filtration rate; left ventricular hypertrophy.