Soluble CD40 ligand is predictive of combined cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients on haemodialysis at a relatively short-term follow-up.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

We tested the hypothesis that soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L), a biomarker of proatherogenic inflammation, may be predictive of cardiovascular (CV) events in a subgroup of patients from the RISCAVID study, an observational and prospective study in patients on haemodialysis (HD).

METHODS:

Plasma sCD40L levels were assessed at the time of the enrollment in 300 HD patients (mean age: 65 ± 15 years), recruited in five different centres. During a follow-up of 24 months, overall mortality, CV mortality and CV major nonfatal events (acute myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure and stroke) were registered. Cox proportional hazards regression assessed adjusted differences in CV morbidity and mortality risk.

RESULTS:

Stratifying patients according to plasma sCD40L levels in those with levels lower or equal to (sCD40L-) and greater than (sCD40L+) the median value of 7.6 ng/mL, no significant difference was observed at baseline between the two groups in age, gender, blood pressure values and previous CV events. At 24-month follow-up, a significant (P < 0.01) lower incidence of the combined end point of CV morbidity and mortality was observed in the sCD40L- group (29%) as compared to the sCD40L+ group (36%). In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, the presence of sCD40L above the median value is associated with a significant increase in the risk of CV morbidity and mortality (hazard ratio: 1.61, 95% confidence interval 1.03-3.11).

CONCLUSIONS:

These observational results support the prognostic value of sCD40L in end-stage renal disease, thus providing a useful tool to better stratify CV prognosis in these patients.

• Authors: Giovambattista Desideri, Vincenzo Panichi, Sabrina Paoletti, Davide Grassi, Roberto Bigazzi, Sara Beati, Giada Bernabini, Alberto Rosati, Claudio Ferri, Stefano Taddei, Lorenzo Ghiadoni, RISCAVID investigators
• Journal: Nephrology, dialysis, transplantation : official publication of the European Dialysis and Transplant Association - European Renal Association (Nephrol Dial Transplant) Vol. 26 Issue 9 Pg. 2983-8 (Sep 2011) ISSN: 1460-2385 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 21303961 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers
• CD40 Ligand
• C-Reactive Protein

Topics

• Aged
• Biomarkers (blood)
• C-Reactive Protein (metabolism)
• CD40 Ligand (blood)
• Cardiovascular Diseases (diagnosis, etiology, mortality)
• Cohort Studies
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Glomerular Filtration Rate
• Humans
• Incidence
• Kidney Failure, Chronic (mortality, therapy)
• Male
• Morbidity
• Prognosis
• Prospective Studies
• Renal Dialysis (adverse effects, mortality)
• Risk Assessment
• Survival Rate