Serum tumor markers in advanced stages of chronic kidney diseases

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the most important noncommunicable diseases. Abnormal concentration of some tumor markers were found in a spectrum of nonmalignant diseases such as benign ovarian tumors, breast diseases, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, diseases of the bile duct, and in CKD. Hence, the present study was undertaken to evaluate carbohydrate antigen (CA) 15-3, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), CA 19-9, and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) concentrations in advanced stages of CKD (Stage 4 and 5) patients who are not on dialysis and with no known malignancy. Patients included 40 CKD patients and 40 healthy controls. CA 15-3, CEA, CA 19-9, and HCG in serum were estimated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. The differences in tumor marker levels between the controls and advanced stages of CKD (Stage 4 and 5) were assessed using one-way analysis of variance using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows version 16.5. CKD patients had significantly elevated levels of CEA, HCG, CA 19-9, and CA 15-3 compared to the control group (P = 0.001). There was no difference in the tumor markers levels between CKD Stage 4 and 5. Elevation in serum tumor markers may be a possibility in patients with CKD even in the situations of the absence of a malignancy. This may be due to an alteration in their metabolism in CKD and reduction of glomerular filtration rate leading to impaired excretion. Hence, it may be prudent to exercise caution in the interpretation of serum tumor markers as a representative for underlined malignancy in patients of CKD.

Changes in the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers during a single hemodialysis session in patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on hemodialysis (HD) among whom it is 5-20 times higher than in the general population. Some of the nontraditional risk factors such as oxidative stress and inflammation are related to the progress of CVD in HD patients. Several, but not all studies, reported that inflammatory and oxidative stress markers are increased during a single session of HD, mimicking changes that occur during acute immune activation. This study was taken up to evaluate the changes in the inflammatory and oxidative stress markers during a single HD session in patients with chronic kidney disease.

METHODS

Twenty-five ESRD patients on maintenance HD and 25 controls were included in the study. Blood samples were obtained from the patients before starting of hemodialysis (pre-HD) and after completion of hemodialysis (post-HD). The changes in serum Pentraxin-3, hs-CRP, malondialdehyde (MDA) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) levels were measured in pre- and post-HD ESRD patients and compared with healthy control group.

RESULTS

This study found increased levels of Pentraxin-3, hs-CRP, MDA, and decreased level of FRAP in HD patients compared to controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Hemodialysis procedure contributes to inflammation and oxidative stress.

Osteopontin, Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Chronic Kidney Disease

The pleiotropic cytokine osteopontin (OPN) is found to be involved in the pathogenesis of both kidney and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We evaluated the relationship between OPN, other cardiovascular risk factors and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in chronic kidney disease (CKD) (predialysis) patients. This is a 2-year cross-sectional prospective study involving 75 patients with CKD from stage 1 to stage 5 attending the nephrology outpatient department and 25 healthy controls. Routine biochemical parameters were analyzed on clinical chemistry Autoanalyzer Beckman Coulter DXC 600 Synchron, USA. OPN was estimated by ELISA method. Carotid intima-media wall thickness was estimated by Doppler of carotid vessels. Serum OPN and other nontraditional cardiovascular risk factors such as CIMT, lipoprotein (a) Lp(a), fibrinogen, and homocysteine were significantly increased in patients of CKD compared to controls. OPN, Lp(a), fibrinogen, CIMT, parathyroid hormone, and homocysteine progressively increased from early stages of CKD and increased further with progression of the disease, but nitric oxide (NO) level progressively decreased with progression of CKD. OPN showed a positive correlation with CIMT, Lp(a), fibrinogen, and homocysteine and negative correlation with estimated glomerular filtration rate and NO. There was a close direct association between circulating levels of OPN and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries of patients with CKD. Osteopontin and nontraditional CVD risk factors are altered in early stages of CKD and might predict adverse outcomes in these patients.

Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Obese Children

OBJECTIVE

To study the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in pediatric obesity.

METHODS

50 obese children (age 5-17y) and 50 apparently healthy non-obese children (body mass index of over 95th percentile and between 5th to 95th percentiles, respectively) using Centre for Disease Control growth charts were included. Fasting blood sugar, lipid profile, insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, uric acid, fibrinogen, lipoprotein (a), homocysteine, malondialdehyde, ferric reducing ability of plasma and nitric oxide were measured.

RESULTS

Insulin, insulin resistance, triglycerides, uric acid, fibrinogen, malondialdehyde, ferric reducing ability of plasma and nitric oxide were significantly higher (P <0.001) in obese children. Body mass index showed significant positive correlation with insulin r=0.519, P<0.001; insulin resistance r =0.479, P<0.001; uric acid r= 0.289, P=0.005; fibrinogen r=0.461, P<0.001; and nitric oxide r=0.235, P=0.012.

Conclusion

Pediatric obesity is associated with dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction, which are cardiovascular risk factors and components of metabolic syndrome. These children must be targeted for lifestyle and dietary modification.

Biomarker response to contrast administration in diabetic and nondiabetic patients following coronary angiography

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cystatin C represent early renal injury markers for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Baseline parameters such as type and quantity of contrast, patient preparation, renal function status, and diabetes mellitus (DM) are known to affect the response of the kidney to contrast-induced injury. This study was taken up to know the biomarker response to contrast administration in 58 diabetic and 59 nondiabetic male patients with same baseline parameters and baseline serum creatinine <1.2 mg/dl undergoing coronary angiography and their role in predicting the development of CIN. Serum creatinine, serum cystatin C, and urinary-NGAL (u-NGAL) were analyzed at baseline (0 h), 4 h, and 24 h after the administration of contrast medium. CIN was defined as a 25% increase in serum creatinine concentration from the baseline value or an absolute increase of at least 0.5 mg/dl within 48 h after the administration of contrast media. Serum creatinine rose 24 h after contrast administration in the diabetic group compared to 48 h in the nondiabetic group. Serum cystatin C levels rose 24 h after contrast administration in both the groups. The earliest marker to rise in both the groups was u-NGAL at 4 h. Diabetic patients had significantly higher u-NGAL (P = 0.005), and serum creatinine levels (P = 0.008) 4 h, and 24 h after contrast administration, respectively. Serum creatinine and u-NGAL/creatinine at 4 h were found to be the best predictors of CIN in the DM and non-DM patients, respectively. Biomarker response to contrast administration is different in diabetic and nondiabetic patients following contrast administration. Diabetic patients exhibit early and greater degree of renal impairment compared to the nondiabetic patients irrespective of the outcome. We propose the use of serum creatinine in patients with DM and u-NGAL/creatinine in non-DM patients to identify CIN as early as 4 h after contrast administration.

Ischemia-modified albumin levels in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism

BACKGROUND

Free radical-mediated oxidative stress (OS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of thyroid disorders. The ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) has been proposed as a marker of protein oxidative damage, which has been found to reflect hypoxic stress.

AIM

Our aim was to evaluate IMA, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in patients with overt hypothyroidism (OHT) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT) in comparison to euthyroid controls.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Albumin, IMA, IMA/albumin ratio, MDA, GSH, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-Cholesterol were assessed in 105 subjects grouped into OHT, SHT patients, and euthyroid controls with 35 subjects in each group.

RESULTS

MDA and IMA levels were significantly elevated while the GSH concentrations were significantly lower in OHT and SHT patients compared to controls (p < 0.01). When IMA values were normalized for albumin concentrations, the IMA/albumin ratio was also significantly elevated in both patient groups compared to controls (p < 0.01). These changes were more pronounced in the OHT group when compared to SHT group. In OHT group, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels showed significant positive correlation with MDA (r = 0.470, p = 0.004), IMA (r = 0.530, p = 0.001), and IMA/albumin ratio (r = 0.525, p = 0.001). Both IMA (r = -0.342, p = 0.041), IMA/albumin ratio (r = -0.378, p = 0.023) showed significant negative correlation with GSH in OHT patients. No significant correlation between variables was, however, observed in SHT group.

CONCLUSIONS

Increase of MDA and IMA levels with decreased antioxidant status indicate the presence of OS in hypothyroid patients, which was more pronounced in OHT patients. Elevated levels of IMA can be a clinically useful marker of protein oxidative damage and OS in hypothyroidism.

Antioxidant defense in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism

Oxidative stress as a result of disequilibrium between free radical generation and antioxidant status has been implicated in several pathologies including thyroid diseases. Studies on antioxidant status in overt (OHT) and subclinical hypothyroidism (SHT) are controversial and limited. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of OHT and SHT on antioxidant status. Thirty-six patients with OHT, 36 patients with SHT, and 39 healthy euthyroid subjects as the control group were included in the study. Plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) as ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), SOD/GPx ratios, catalase (CAT), and glutathione reductase (GR) were analyzed in all groups. MDA and GPx values were elevated, while GSH, FRAP, SOD, and SOD/GPx ratio were decreased in both patient groups compared with controls. No change in activities of CAT and GR were observed in both the patient groups. Significant differences were observed between OHT and SHT groups with high MDA, GPX and low GSH, FRAP, SOD, and SOD/GPx ratio in OHT group. Thus, hypothyroid patients have a deficient antioxidant defense in the form of decreased activity of SOD, decreased levels of FRAP and GSH along with an increase in GPx activity. The severity of the disease appears to decide the degree of deficiency and our findings also point to this, in the form of decrease in SOD, FRAP, and GSH observed being more in OHT than in SHT patients. Hormonal changes and increased lipid peroxidation, which also vary with severity of disease, appear to contribute to the antioxidant deficiency.

Evaluation of protein oxidation and its association with lipid peroxidation and thyrotropin levels in overt and subclinical hypothyroidism

Both overt (OHT) and subclinical hypothyroid (SHT) disorders have been found to be associated with increased oxidative stress (OXS). Excess thyrotropin [thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)] is known to directly produce OXS. Increased lipid peroxidation is known to facilitate protein carbonylation. However, the associations between lipid and protein oxidation and elevated TSH levels have not been studied. Thyroid profile, lipid peroxidation as malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and protein carbonylation as protein carbonyls (PCO) were estimated in OHT and SHT groups consisting of 36 patients each, in comparison to 39 euthyroid controls. We also determined the associations between TSH, MDA, and PCO levels in OHT and SHT groups. Increased oxidative damage was evidenced through significant elevations in the concentrations of MDA and PCO in OHT and SHT groups compared to controls (p < 0.01). Both TSH and MDA levels were positively associated with PCO in OHT group. Partial correlation analysis revealed that both excess TSH and increased MDA levels are mutually influencing elevated PCO. The results indicate that there is a simultaneous oxidative damage to lipids and proteins leading to increased MDA and PCO levels in both patient groups. Either of the excess TSH and increased MDA levels are combinably involved in the elevation of PCO in hypothyroidism.

Association of lipid peroxidation with endothelial dysfunction in patients with overt hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is associated with increased oxidative stress. The mechanism underlying the endothelial dysfunction in thyroid disease is not yet clear. This study aims to investigate lipid peroxidation and its association with endothelial dysfunction in overt hypothyroidism (OHT).Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress and plasma nitrates and asymmetric dimethyl arginine levels (ADMA) as markers of endothelial dysfunction were estimated in 25 OHT patients in comparison to 25 euthyroid controls. Plasma MDA, ADMA levels were significantly increased, whereas plasma nitrates were significantly decreased in the patient group compared to control group (p<0.01). Moreover, a significant positive association between plasma MDA and ADMA was found in the patient group (ρ=0.472, p=0.036). Our results reveal the presence of endothelial dysfunction in OHT patients as evidenced by decreased plasma nitrates and increased ADMA levels. Increased levels of MDA represent an increased generation of reactive oxygen species in these patients. A finding of significant direct relation of plasma MDA with ADMA indicates that oxidative stress has a strong impact on endothelial dysfunction in overt hypothyroidism. Further studies focusing on the role of oxidative stress in endothelial dysfunction and the effects of antioxidant supplementation on endothelial function in OHT patients are required.

Effect of reuse of polysulfone membrane on oxidative stress during hemodialysis

Patients with chronic renal failure, especially those on long-term hemodialysis (HD), have a high incidence of premature cardiovascular disease. Oxidative stress, which occurs when there is an excessive free radical production or low antioxidant level, has recently been implicated as a causative factor in atherogenesis. Hourly changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes, vitamins, lipid profile and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were studied with the first use and immediate subsequent reuse of polysulfone dialysis membrane in 27 patients on regular HD treatment. Data were corrected for hemoconcentration and standardized to measure the rate of change. Increase in MDA and erythrocyte catalase along with decrease in plasma vitamin E and FRAP levels and no change in glutathione peroxidase levels were observed as a result of both fresh and reuse dialysis. These findings indicate a net oxidative stress in both fresh as well as dialyzer reuse sessions. There was no significant change in oxidative stress in both fresh and reuse sessions. The oxidative stress with reuse dialysis was less when compared to first use dialysis, but the difference was not statistically significant.

The effect of L-carnitine supplementation on lipid parameters, inflammatory and nutritional markers in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Protein energy malnutrition and inflammation are common and usually concurrent in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Carnitine, a small molecule involved in fatty acid metabolism, is significantly decreased in long-term HD patients. L-Carnitine supplementation may have potential benefits in improving dialysis-related disorders. However, there are conflicting reports with regard to the beneficial effects of L-Carnitine supplementation. Hence, the present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of L-Carnitine supplementation on lipid parameters, apoproteins and inflammatory and nutritional markers in HD patients. A total of 35 patients with end-stage renal disease, on MHD for a period of 2 to 5 years were recruited into the study. The study group consisted of 20 patients who received Carnitine supplementation intravenously three times a week after each HD session, at 1 g/dose, while the control group consisted of 15 patients without supplementation with L-Carnitine. Highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), total protein, albumin, lipid profile and apoprotein AI and B were determined at baseline and at the end of the study. A significant decrease in the hsCRP levels was observed in the Carnitine-supplemented group (P < 0.05). However, no significant change was observed in the lipid parameters and nutritional markers in the Carnitine-supplemented group. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates the significant benefit of L-Carnitine supplementation on inflammatory status in MHD patients as noted by marked decrease in hsCRP levels in comparison with the control group.

Efficacy of low dose atorvastatin in diabetic dyslipidaemia

Coronary heart disease (CHD), the commonest cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes, requires multipronged approach for management, including especially treating dyslipidaemia with statins. We conducted this study to demonstrate that low dose (10 mg) atorvastatin is effective in reducing LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) to the target levels in patients from Indian subcontinent. Eighty-one subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia (LDL-C >100 mg/dl in those without coronary artery disease, n=77; LDL-C >70 mg/dl in those with coronary artery disease, n=4) were included. All patients were initiated on 10 mg atorvastatin daily. Serum lipid profile was repeated after 3 months. The mean body mass index among men and women were 25.0 +/- 4 and 26.7 +/- 3.6 kg/m2 respectively. Pretreatment mean HbA(1c) was 7.9 +/- 1.8 % and total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholestrol (HDL-C) and LDL-C was 214 +/- 27 mg/dl, 164 +/- 63 mg/dl, 46 +/- 6 mg/dl and 135 +/- 24 mg/dl respectively. After three months of treatment the mean decrease was 62 +/- 31 mg/dl in total cholesterol (p < 0.001), 31 +/- 57 mg/dl in triglycerides (p < 0.001), 51 +/- 27 mg/dl in LDL-C (p < 0.001) and 4 +/- 8 mg/dl in HDL-C (p < 0.001). The LDL-C level was reduced by 37.6% in these patients, from 135 +/- 24 mg/dl to 84 = 27 mg/dl (p < 0.001) with 10 mg of atorvastatin daily. It was possible to achieve target LDL-C of less than 100 mg/dl in 75.5% (n=58) in subjects without CHD (n=77) and less than 70 mg/dl in 75% (n=3) of those patients with CHD (n=4). The present study showed that in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 10 mg of atorvastatin daily was safe, well tolerated, and effective in reducing LDL-C to target levels.