| 1. |
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| 2. |
- Abedini, Sadollah, et al.
(author)
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Asymmetrical dimethylarginine is associated with renal and cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality in renal transplant recipients
- 2010
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In: Kidney International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0085-2538 .- 1523-1755. ; 77:1, s. 44-50
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Increased plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are associated with endothelial dysfunction and predict the progression to dialysis and death in patients with chronic kidney disease. The effects of these increased ADMA levels in renal transplant recipients, however, are unknown. We used the data from ALERT, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of fluvastatin on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in 2102 renal transplant recipients with stable graft function on enrollment. Patients who were initially randomized to fluvastatin or placebo in the 5- to 6-year trial were offered open-label fluvastatin in a 2-year extension of the original study. After adjustment for baseline values for established factors in this post hoc analysis, ADMA was found to be a significant risk factor for graft failure or doubling of serum creatinine (hazard ratio 2.78), major cardiac events (hazard ratio 2.61), cerebrovascular events (hazard ratio 6.63), and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio 4.87). In this trial extension, the number of end points increased with increasing quartiles of plasma ADMA levels. All end points were significantly increased in the fourth compared to the first quartile. Our study shows that elevated plasma levels of ADMA are associated with increased morbidity, mortality, and the deterioration of graft function in renal transplant recipients.
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| 3. |
- Abedini, Sadollah, et al.
(author)
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Inflammation in renal transplantation
- 2009
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In: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. - 1046-6673 .- 1533-3450. ; 4:7, s. 1246-1254
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Renal transplant recipients experience premature cardiovascular disease and death. The association of inflammation, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular events in renal transplant recipients has not been examined in a large prospective controlled trial. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: ALERT was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of fluvastatin on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in 2102 renal transplant recipients. Patients initially randomized to fluvastatin or placebo in the 5- to 6-yr trial were offered open-label fluvastatin in a 2-yr extension to the original study. The association between inflammation markers, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and IL-6 on cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality was investigated. RESULTS: The baseline IL-6 value was 2.9 +/- 1.9 pg/ml (n = 1751) and that of hsCRP was 3.8 +/- 6.7 mg/L (n = 1910). After adjustment for baseline values for established risk factors, the hazard ratios for a major cardiac event and all-cause mortality for IL-6 were 1.08 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01 to 1.15, P = 0.018] and 1.11 (95% CI, 1.05 to 1.18, P < 0.001), respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio for hsCRP for a cardiovascular event was 1.10 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20, P = 0.027) and for all-cause mortality was 1.15 (95% CI, 1.06 to 1.1.25, P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: The inflammation markers IL-6 and hsCRP are independently associated with major cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in renal transplant recipients.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Barratt, Jonathan, et al.
(author)
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Budesonide delayed-release capsules to reduce proteinuria in adults with primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy
- 2023
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In: Expert Review of Clinical Immunology. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1744-666X .- 1744-8409. ; 19:7, s. 699-710
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IntroductionImmunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is characterized by mesangial deposition of immune complexes containing galactose-deficient IgA1 (Gd-IgA1). This Gd-IgA1 is believed to originate from mucosally sited B cells, which are abundant in the Peyer's patches-rich distal ileum. Nefecon is a targeted-release form of budesonide developed to act in the distal ileum, thereby exerting a direct action on the mucosal tissue implicated in the pathogenesis of the disease.Areas coveredThis review discusses IgAN pathophysiology and provides an overview of the current therapeutic landscape, focusing on Nefecon, the first drug to receive accelerated US approval and conditional EU approval for the treatment of patients with IgAN at risk of rapid disease progression.Expert opinionNefecon trial data thus far have demonstrated a promising efficacy profile, with a predictable pattern of adverse events. Treatment with Nefecon for 9 months reduces proteinuria substantially (Part A of the Phase 3 trial and the Phase 2b trial). A nearly complete prevention of deterioration of renal function has been observed at 12 months in patients at greatest risk of rapid disease progression. Long-term data from Part B of the Phase 3 study will provide 24-month data, furthering understanding of the durability of the 9-month treatment course.
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| 6. |
- Bredewold, Obbo W, et al.
(author)
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Cardiovascular Risk Following Conversion to Belatacept From a Calcineurin Inhibitor in Kidney Transplant Recipients : A Randomized Clinical Trial
- 2023
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In: Kidney Medicine. - : Elsevier. - 2590-0595. ; 5:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: In kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), a belatacept-based immunosuppressive regimen is associated with beneficial effects on cardiovascular (CV) risk factors compared with calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-based regimens. Our objective was to compare the calculated CV risk between belatacept and CNI (predominantly tacrolimus) treatments using a validated model developed for KTRs.STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, open-label, parallel-group, investigator-initiated, international multicenter trial.SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: KTRs aged 18-80 years with a stable graft function (estimated glomerular filtration rate > 20 mL/min/1.73 m2), 3-60 months after transplantation, treated with tacrolimus or cyclosporine A, were eligible for inclusion.INTERVENTION: Continuation with a CNI-based regimen or switch to belatacept for 12 months.OUTCOMES: Comparison of the change in the estimated 7-year risk of major adverse CV events and all-cause mortality, changes in traditional markers of CV health, as well as measures of arterial stiffness.RESULTS: Among the 105 KTRs randomized, we found no differences between the treatment groups in the predicted risk for major adverse CV events or mortality. Diastolic blood pressure, measured both centrally by using a SphygmoCor device and peripherally, was lower after the belatacept treatment than after the CNI treatment. The mean changes in traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, including kidney transplant function, were otherwise similar in both the treatment groups. The belatacept group had 4 acute rejection episodes; 2 were severe rejections, of which 1 led to graft loss.LIMITATIONS: The heterogeneous baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate and time from transplantation to trial enrollment in the participants. A limited study duration of 1 year.CONCLUSIONS: We found no effects on the calculated CV risk by switching to the belatacept treatment. Participants in the belatacept group had not only lower central and peripheral diastolic blood pressure but also a higher rejection rate.FUNDING: The trial has received a financial grant from Bristol-Myers Squibb.TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT no. 2013-001178-20.
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| 7. |
- Cameron-Christie, Sophia, et al.
(author)
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Exome-Based Rare-Variant Analyses in CKD
- 2019
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In: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. - : AMER SOC NEPHROLOGY. - 1046-6673 .- 1533-3450. ; 30:6, s. 1109-1122
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Studies have identified many common genetic associations that influence renal function and all-cause CKD, but these explain only a small fraction of variance in these traits. The contribution of rare variants has not been systematically examined. Methods We performed exome sequencing of 3150 individuals, who collectively encompassed diverse CKD subtypes, and 9563 controls. To detect causal genes and evaluate the contribution of rare variants we used collapsing analysis, in which we compared the proportion of cases and controls carrying rare variants per gene. Results The analyses captured five established monogenic causes of CKD: variants in PKD1, PKD2, and COL4A5 achieved study-wide significance, and we observed suggestive case enrichment for COL4A4 and COL4A3. Beyond known disease-associated genes, collapsing analyses incorporating regional variant intolerance identified suggestive dominant signals in CPT2 and several other candidate genes. Biallelic mutations in CPT2 cause carnitine palmitoyltransferase II deficiency, sometimes associated with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal injury. Genetic modifier analysis among cases with APOL1 risk genotypes identified a suggestive signal in AHDC1, implicated in Xia-Gibbs syndrome, which involves intellectual disability and other features. On the basis of the observed distribution of rare variants, we estimate that a two-to three-fold larger cohort would provide 80% power to implicate new genes for all-cause CKD. Conclusions This study demonstrates that rare-variant collapsing analyses can validate known genes and identify candidate genes and modifiers for kidney disease. In so doing, these findings provide a motivation for larger-scale investigation of rare-variant risk contributions across major clinical CKD categories.
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| 8. |
- Carrero, J.J., et al.
(author)
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Telomere attrition is associated with inflammation, low fetuin : A levels and high mortality in prevalent haemodialysis patients
- 2008
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In: Journal of Internal Medicine. - : Wiley. - 0954-6820 .- 1365-2796. ; 263:3, s. 302-312
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) predisposes to a 10- to 20-fold increased cardiovascular risk. Patients undergo accelerated atherogenesis and vascular ageing. We investigated whether telomere attrition, a marker of cell senescence, contributes to this increased mortality risk. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study in prevalent haemodialysis patients [n = 175; 98 Males; median (range) age: 66 (23-86) years]. Biochemical markers of oxidative stress and inflammatory status were measured in relation to the patient's leucocyte telomere length. Overall mortality was assessed after a median of 31 (range 2-42) months. RESULTS: Telomere length was shorter in CKD men, despite women being older (average +/- SD 6.41 +/- 1.23 vs. 6.96 +/- 1.48 kb, P = 0.002). Telomere length was associated with age (rho = -0.18, P = 0.01), fetuin-A (rho = 0.26, P = 0.0004), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (rho = -0.21, P = 0.005) and IL-6 (rho = -0.17, P = 0.02). In a multivariate logistic regression (pseudo r(2) = 0.14), telomere length was associated with age >65 years (odds ratio: 2.11; 95% CI: 1.10, 4.06), sex (2.01; 1.05, 3.86), fetuin-A (1.85; 0.97, 3.50) and white blood cell count (2.04; 1.02, 4.09). Receiver operating characteristic curves identified a telomere length < 6.28 kb as a fair predictor of mortality. Finally, reduced telomere length was associated with increased mortality, independently of age, gender and inflammation (likelihood ratio 41.6, P < 0.0001), but dependently on fetuin-A levels. CONCLUSION: Age and male gender seem to be important contributors to reduced telomere length in CKD patients, possibly via persistent inflammation. Reduced telomere length also contributes to the mortality risk of these patients through pathways that could involve circulating levels of fetuin-A.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Coppo, Rosanna, et al.
(author)
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Is there long-term value of pathology scoring in immunoglobulin A nephropathy? : A validation study of the Oxford Classification for IgA Nephropathy (VALIGA) update
- 2020
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In: Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0931-0509 .- 1460-2385. ; 35:6, s. 1002-1009
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: It is unknown whether renal pathology lesions in immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) correlate with renal outcomes over decades of follow-up.Methods: In 1130 patients of the original Validation Study of the Oxford Classification for IgA Nephropathy (VALIGA) cohort, we studied the relationship between the MEST score (mesangial hypercellularity, M; endocapillary hypercellularity, E; segmental glomerulosclerosis, S; tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis, T), crescents (C) and other histological lesions with both a combined renal endpoint [50% estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) loss or kidney failure] and the rate of eGFR decline over a follow-up period extending to 35 years [median 7 years (interquartile range 4.1-10.8)].Results: In this extended analysis, M1, S1 and T1-T2 lesions as well as the whole MEST score were independently related with the combined endpoint (P < 0.01), and there was no effect modification by age for these associations, suggesting that they may be valid in children and in adults as well. Only T lesions were associated with the rate of eGFR loss in the whole cohort, whereas C showed this association only in patients not treated with immunosuppression. In separate prognostic analyses, the whole set of pathology lesions provided a gain in discrimination power over the clinical variables alone, which was similar at 5 years (+2.0%) and for the whole follow-up (+1.8%). A similar benefit was observed for risk reclassification analyses (+2.7% and +2.4%).Conclusion: Long-term follow-up analyses of the VALIGA cohort showed that the independent relationship between kidney biopsy findings and the risk of progression towards kidney failure in IgAN remains unchanged across all age groups and decades after the renal biopsy.
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| 11. |
- de Gonzalo-Calvo, David, et al.
(author)
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Improved cardiovascular risk prediction in patients with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis using machine learning modeling and circulating microribonucleic acids
- 2020
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In: Theranostics. - : IVYSPRING INT PUBL. - 1838-7640. ; 10:19, s. 8665-8676
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Rationale: To test whether novel biomarkers, such as microribonucleic acids (miRNAs), and nonstandard predictive models, such as decision tree learning, provide useful information for medical decision-making in patients on hemodialysis (HD). Methods: Samples from patients with end-stage renal disease receiving HD included in the AURORA trial were investigated (n=810). The study included two independent phases: phase I (matched cases and controls, n=410) and phase II (unmatched cases and controls, n=400). The composite endpoint was cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke. miRNA quantification was performed using miRNA sequencing and RT-qPCR. The CART algorithm was used to construct regression tree models. A bagging-based procedure was used for validation. Results: In phase I, miRNA sequencing in a subset of samples (n=20) revealed miR-632 as a candidate (fold change=2.9). miR-632 was associated with the endpoint, even after adjusting for confounding factors (HR from 1.43 to 1.53). These findings were not reproduced in phase II. Regression tree models identified eight patient subgroups with specific risk patterns. miR-186-5p and miR-632 entered the tree by redefining two risk groups: patients older than 64 years and with hsCRP<0.827 mg/L and diabetic patients younger than 64 years. miRNAs improved the discrimination accuracy at the beginning of the follow-up (24 months) compared to the models without miRNAs (integrated AUC [iAUC]=0.71). Conclusions: The circulating miRNA profile complements conventional risk factors to identify specific cardiovascular risk patterns among patients receiving maintenance HD.
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| 12. |
- de Laval, Philip, et al.
(author)
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Acute effects of haemodialysis on circulating microparticles
- 2019
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In: Clinical Kidney Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2048-8505 .- 2048-8513. ; 12:3, s. 456-462
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. Microparticles (MPs) are small cell membrane-derived vesicles regarded as both biomarkers and mediators of biological effects. Elevated levels of MPs have previously been associated with endothelial dysfunction and predict cardiovascular death in patients with end-stage renal disease. The objective of this study was to measure change in MP concentrations in contemporary haemodialysis (HD).Methods. Blood was sampled from 20 consecutive HD patients before and 1h into the HD session. MPs were measured by flow cytometry and phenotyped based on surface markers.Results. Concentrations of platelet (CD41(+)) (P = 0.039), endothelial (CD62E(+)) (P = 0.004) andmonocyte-derived MPs (CD14(+)) (P<0.001) significantly increased during HD. Similarly, endothelial-(P = 0.007) and monocyte-derived MPs (P = 0.001) expressing tissue factor (TF) significantly increased as well as MPs expressing Klotho (P = 0.003) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) (P = 0.009). Furthermore, MPs expressing platelet activationmarkers P-selectin (P = 0.009) and CD40L (P = 0.045) also significantly increased. The increase of endothelial (P = 0.034), monocyte (P = 0.014) and RAGE(+) MPs (P = 0.032) as well as TF+ platelet-derived MPs (P = 0.043) was significantly higher in patients treated with low-flux compared with high-flux dialysers.Conclusion. Dialysis triggers release of MPs of various origins with marked differences between high-flux and low-flux dialysers. The MPs carry surface molecules that could possibly influence coagulation, inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. The clinical impact of these findings remains to be established in future studies.
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| 13. |
- Ekdahl, Kristina N, et al.
(author)
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Cardiovascular disease in haemodialysis : role of the intravascular innate immune system.
- 2017
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In: Nature Reviews Nephrology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1759-5061 .- 1759-507X. ; 13:5, s. 285-296
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Haemodialysis is a life-saving renal replacement modality for end-stage renal disease, but this therapy also represents a major challenge to the intravascular innate immune system, which is comprised of the complement, contact and coagulation systems. Chronic inflammation is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients on haemodialysis. Biomaterial-induced contact activation of proteins within the plasma cascade systems occurs during haemodialysis and initially leads to local generation of inflammatory mediators on the biomaterial surface. The inflammation is spread by soluble activation products and mediators that are generated during haemodialysis and transported in the extracorporeal circuit back into the patient together with activated leukocytes and platelets. The combined effect is activation of the endothelium of the cardiovascular system, which loses its anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory properties, leading to atherogenesis and arteriosclerosis. This concept suggests that maximum suppression of the intravascular innate immune system is needed to minimize the risk of CVD in patients on haemodialysis. A potential approach to achieve this goal is to treat patients with broad-specificity systemic drugs that target more than one of the intravascular cascade systems. Alternatively, 'stealth' biomaterials that cause minimal cascade system activation could be used in haemodialysis circuits.
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| 14. |
- Fellström, Bengt, 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Adherence of Renal Transplant Recipients to Once-daily, Prolonged-Release and Twice-daily, Immediate-release Tacrolimus-based Regimens in a Real-life Setting in Sweden
- 2018
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In: Transplantation Proceedings. - : Elsevier BV. - 0041-1345 .- 1873-2623. ; 50:10, s. 3275-3282
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. In this study we investigated medication adherence of kidney transplant patients (KTPs) to an immediate-release tacrolimus (IR-T) regimen and, after conversion, to a prolonged-release tacrolimus (PR-T) regimen in routine clinical practice. Methods. This was a non-interventional, observational, multicenter Swedish study. We included adult KTPs with stable graft function, remaining on IR-T or converting from IR-T to PR-T. Data were collected at baseline, and months 3, 6, and 12 post-baseline. The primary endpoint was adherence using the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale (BAASIS). Secondary assessments included tacrolimus dose and trough levels, clinical laboratory parameters (eg, estimated glomerular filtration rate), and adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Results. Overall, data from 233 KTPs were analyzed (PR-T, n = 175; IR-T, n = 58). Mean change in PR-T dose from baseline (4.8 mg/d) to month 12 was -0.2 mg/d, and for IR-T (4.2 mg/d) was-0.4 mg/d; tacrolimus trough levels remained similar. Overall adherence was similar between baseline and month 12 in both groups (PR-T: 54.4% vs 57.0%, respectively; IR-T: 65.5% vs 69.4%); timing adherence followed a similar pattern. The probability of taking adherence improved between baseline and month 12 (odds ratio, 1.97; P =.0092) in the PR-T group only. Mean BAASIS visual analog scale score at baseline was 94.3 11.1% (PR-T) and 95.3 7.6% (IR-T), and >95% at subsequent visits. Laboratory parameters remained stable. Eight (4.6%) patients receiving PR-T (none receiving IR-T) had ADRs considered probably/possibly treatment-related. Conclusion. Disparity existed between high, patient-perceived and low, actual adherence. Overall adherence to the immunosuppressive regimen (measured by BAASIS) did not improve significantly over 12 months in stable KTPs converting to PR-T or remaining on IR-T; renal function remained stable.
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| 15. |
- Fellström, Bengt, 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Albumin Urinary Excretion Is Associated with Increased Levels of Urinary Chemokines, Cytokines, and Growth Factors Levels in Humans
- 2021
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In: Biomolecules. - : MDPI. - 2218-273X. ; 11:3
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The aim of the present study was to study the associations between urine albumin excretion, and a large number of urinary chemokines, cytokines, and growth factors in a normal population. We selected 90 urine samples from individuals without CVD, diabetes, stroke or kidney disease belonging to the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors Study (41 males and 49 females, all aged 75 years). Urinary cytokine levels were analyzed with two multiplex assays (proximity extension assays) and the cytokine levels were correlated with urine albumin. After adjustment for sex, body mass index (BMI), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), smoking and multiplicity testing, 11 biomarkers remained significantly associated with urine albumin: thrombospondin 2, interleukin 6, interleukin 8, hepatocyte growth factor, matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12), C-X-C motif chemokine 9, tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 11B, osteoprotegerin, growth-regulated alpha protein, C-X-C motif chemokine 6, oncostatin-M (OSM) and fatty acid-binding protein, intestinal, despite large differences in molecular weights. In this study, we found associations between urinary albumin and both small and large urine proteins. Additional studies are warranted to identify cytokine patterns and potential progression markers in various renal diseases.
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| 16. |
- Fellström, Bengt, 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Associations Between Apolipoprotein A1, High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol, and Urinary Cytokine Levels in Elderly Males and Females
- 2019
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In: Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1079-9907 .- 1557-7465. ; 40:2, s. 71-74
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There exists a close relationship between cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease. Apolipoprotein A1 and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are widely used as cardiovascular risk markers but they also have anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to investigate any associations between HDL levels and cytokine levels in urine. We randomly selected 90 urine samples from the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors Study (41 males and 49 females). The samples were analyzed with 2 multiplex assays, Multiplex Inflammation I and Cardiovascular II kits (Olink Bioscience, Uppsala, Sweden). We analyzed the correlations between 158 cytokines in urine with apolipoprotein A1, HDL cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. There were strong correlations for apolipoprotein A1 and HDL cholesterol with individual cytokines. After adjustment for multiplicity testing, there were 33 significant correlations between apolipoprotein A1 and cytokine levels and 14 of these were also significantly correlated with HDL cholesterol. The strongest associations were observed for IL-1α, SPON2, RAGE, PAR-1, TRAIL-R2, IL-4RA, TNFRSF11A, and SCF. A total of 28 out of 33 correlations were negative, indicating a negative relationship between apolipoprotein A1 and urinary cytokines. The study shows a negative correlation between apolipoprotein A1 and HDL cholesterol and urinary cytokine levels. The finding is in agreement with the anti-inflammatory properties of HDL.
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| 17. |
- Fellström, Bengt C., 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Chronic allograft nepropathy
- 2009
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In: Evidence-based nephrology. - Oxford : Wiley-Blackwell. - 9781405139755 ; , s. 599-608
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
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| 18. |
- Fellström, Bengt C., 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Targeted-release budesonide versus placebo in patients with IgA nephropathy (NEFIGAN) : a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial
- 2017
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In: The Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 389:10084, s. 2117-2127
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: IgA nephropathy is thought to be associated with mucosal immune system dysfunction, which manifests as renal IgA deposition that leads to impairment and end-stage renal disease in 20-40% of patients within 10-20 years. In this trial (NEFIGAN) we aimed to assess safety and efficacy of a novel targeted-release formulation of budesonide (TRF-budesonide), designed to deliver the drug to the distal ileum in patients with IgA nephropathy.Methods: We did a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2b trial, comprised of 6-month run-in, 9-month treatment, and 3-month follow-up phases at 62 nephrology clinics across ten European countries. We recruited patients aged at least 18 years with biopsy-confirmed primary IgA nephropathy and persistent proteinuria despite optimised renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade. We randomly allocated patients with a computer algorithm, with a fixed block size of three, in a 1:1:1 ratio to 16 mg/day TRF-budesonide, 8 mg/day TRF-budesonide, or placebo, stratified by baseline urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCR). Patients self-administered masked capsules, once daily, 1 h before breakfast during the treatment phase. All patients continued optimised RAS blockade treatment throughout the trial. Our primary outcome was mean change from baseline in UPCR for the 9-month treatment phase, which was assessed in the full analysis set, defined as all randomised patients who took at least one dose of trial medication and had at least one post-dose efficacy measurement. Safety was assessed in all patients who received the intervention. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01738035.Findings: Between Dec 11, 2012, and June 25, 2015, 150 randomised patients were treated (safety set) and 149 patients were eligible for the full analysis set. Overall, at 9 months TRF-budesonide (16 mg/day plus 8 mg/day) was associated with a 24.4% (SEM 7.7%) decrease from baseline in mean UPCR (change in UPCR vs placebo 0.74; 95% CI 0.59-0.94; p=0.0066). At 9 months, mean UPCR had decreased by 27.3% in 48 patients who received 16 mg/day (0.71; 0.53-0.94; p=0.0092) and 21.5% in the 51 patients who received 8 mg/day (0.76; 0.58-1.01; p=0.0290); 50 patients who received placebo had an increase in mean UPCR of 2.7%. The effect was sustained throughout followup. Incidence of adverse events was similar in all groups (43 [88%] of 49 in the TRF-budesonide 16 mg/day group, 48 [94%] of 51 in the TRF-budesonide 8 mg/day, and 42 [84%] of 50 controls). Two of 13 serious adverse events were possibly associated with TRF-budesonide-deep vein thrombosis (16 mg/day) and unexplained deterioration in renal function in follow-up (patients were tapered from 16 mg/day to 8 mg/day over 2 weeks and follow-up was assessed 4 weeks later).Interpretation: TRF-budesonide 16 mg/day, added to optimised RAS blockade, reduced proteinuria in patients with IgA nephropathy. This effect is indicative of a reduced risk of future progression to end-stage renal disease. TRF-budesonide could become the first specific treatment for IgA nephropathy targeting intestinal mucosal immunity upstream of disease manifestation.
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| 19. |
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| 20. |
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| 21. |
- Fellström, Bengt, 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Renal dysfunction as a risk factor for mortality and cardiovascular disease in renal transplantation : experience from the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation trial
- 2005
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In: Transplantation. - : Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins. - 0041-1337 .- 1534-6080. ; 79:9, s. 1160-1163
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Renal-transplant recipients have shortened life expectancy primarily because of premature cardiovascular disease. Traditional and nontraditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease are prevalent in renal patients. In renal-transplant recipients, immunosuppressive therapy can be nephrotoxic and aggravate cardiovascular disease risk factors. Renal dysfunction has been established as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality in different populations. We evaluated the effects of baseline renal-transplant function on mortality and cardiovascular and renal endpoints in 1,052 placebo-treated patients of the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation trial. METHODS: All renal-transplant recipients were on cyclosporine-based immunosuppressive therapy. Follow-up was 5 to 6 years, and endpoints included cardiac death, noncardiovascular death, all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac event (MACE), stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and graft loss. RESULTS: Baseline serum creatinine was strongly and independently associated with increased cardiac, noncardiovascular, and all-cause mortality, as well as MACE and graft loss. Serum creatinine was not a risk factor for stroke or nonfatal myocardial infarction. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated baseline serum creatinine in renal-transplant recipients is a strong and independent risk factor for all-cause, noncardiovascular and cardiac mortality, MACE, and graft loss.
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| 22. |
- Fellström, Bengt, 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Renal dysfunction is a strong and independent risk factor for mortality and cardiovascular complications in renal transplantation
- 2005
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In: American Journal of Transplantation. - : Elsevier BV. - 1600-6135 .- 1600-6143. ; 5:8, s. 1986-1991
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Renal transplant recipients (RTR) have shortened life expectancy, primarily due to premature cardiovascular disease (CVD). Traditional CVD risk factors are highly prevalent. In addition, several non-traditional risk factors may contribute to the high risk. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of renal dysfunction on mortality and cardiovascular complications in 1052 placebo-treated patients of the Assessment of LEscol in Renal Transplantation (ALERT) trial. Follow-up was 5-6 years and endpoints included cardiac death, non-cardiovascular death, all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiac event (MACE), non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke. The effects of serum creatinine at baseline on these endpoints were evaluated. Elevated serum creatinine in RTR was a strong and independent risk factor for MACE, cardiac, non-cardiovascular, and all-cause mortality, but not for stroke or non-fatal MI alone. Serum creatinine was associated with increased mortality and MACE, independent of established CVD risk factors. Graft loss resulted in increased incidences of non-cardiovascular death, all-cause mortality, MACE and non-fatal MI. In conclusion, elevated serum creatinine is a strong risk factor for all-cause, non-cardiovascular and cardiac mortality, and MACE, independent of traditional risk factors, but not for stroke or non-fatal MI alone.
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| 23. |
- Fellström, Bengt, 1947-, et al.
(author)
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Strong Associations Between Early Tubular Damage and Urinary Cytokine, Chemokine, and Growth Factor Levels in Elderly Males and Females
- 2021
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In: Journal of Interferon and Cytokine Research. - : Mary Ann Liebert Inc. - 1079-9907 .- 1557-7465. ; 41:8, s. 283-290
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Acute tubular necrosis is associated with high mortality rates and it is important to develop new biomarkers for tubular damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of early tubular damage on a large number of urinary cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. We selected 90 urine samples from the Prospective Investigation of the Vasculature in Uppsala Seniors Study (41 males and 49 females). The tubular damage markers cystatin C, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) were analyzed in the urine samples and urinary cytokine levels were analyzed with 2 multiplex assays (proximity extension assay). After adjustment for sex, body mass index, estimated glomerular filtration rate, smoking, and multiplicity testing using the false discovery rate approach, there remained 26 cytokines that correlated significantly with urine cystatin C, 27 cytokines that correlated with NGAL, and 66 cytokines that correlated with KIM-1. Tubular damage shows a strong association with urinary cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. Our findings indicate that multiplex proteomics could be a promising new approach to explore the complex effects of tubular damage.
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| 24. |
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| 25. |
- Girerd, Sophie, et al.
(author)
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Arteriovenous fistula thrombosis is associated with increased all-cause and cardiovascular mortar in haemodialysis patients from the AURORA trial
- 2020
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In: Clinical Kidney Journal. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 2048-8505 .- 2048-8513. ; 13:1, s. 116-122
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. The impact of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) or graft (AVG) thrombosis on mortality has been sparsely studied. This study investigated the association between AVF/AVG thrombosis and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.Methods. The data from 2439 patients with AVF or AVG undergoing maintenance haemodialysis (HD) included in the A Study to Evaluate the Use of Rosuvastatin in Subjects on Regular Hemodialysis: An Assessment of Survival and Cardiovascular Events trial (AURORA) were analysed using a time-dependent Cox model. The incidence of vascular access (VA) thrombosis was a pre-specified secondary outcome.Results. During follow-up, 278 AVF and 94 AVG thromboses were documented. VA was restored at 22 +/- 64 days after thrombosis (27 patients had no restoration with subsequent permanent central catheter). In multivariable survival analysis adjusted for potential confounders, the occurrence of AVF/AVG thrombosis was associated with increased early and late allcause mortality, with a more pronounced association with early all-cause mortality {hazard ratio [HR] < 90 days 2.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.83-3.97], P < 0.001; HR > 90 days 1.47 [1.20-1.80], P < 0.001). In addition, the occurrence of AVF thrombosis was significantly associated with higher all-cause mortality, whether VA was restored within 7 days [HR 1.34 (95% CI 1.02-1.75), P = 0.036] or later than 7 days [HR 1.81 (95% CI 1.29-2.53), P = 0.001].Conclusions. AVF/AVG thrombosis should be considered as a major clinical event since it is strongly associated with increased mortality in patients on maintenance HD, especially in the first 90 days after the event and when access restoration occurs >7 days after thrombosis. Clinicians should pay particular attention to the timing of VA restoration and the management of these patients during this high-risk period. The potential benefit of targeting overall patient risk with more aggressive treatment after AVF/AVG restoration should be further explored.
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| 26. |
- Glerup, Rie, et al.
(author)
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Multiplex proteomics as risk predictor of infection in patients treated with hemodialysis-A prospective multicenter study
- 2022
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In: Hemodialysis International. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1492-7535 .- 1542-4758. ; 26:2, s. 191-201
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction Severe infection is a major problem in hemodialysis patients. Multiplex proteomics might reveal novel insights into disease mechanisms increasing the risk of infection and might also be used as a risk prediction tool. The aims of this study were (1) to evaluate associations between 92 proteins assessed by a proximity extension assay and the development of severe infection in patients on hemodialysis and (2) to develop a risk prediction model for severe infection using prespecified clinical variables and proteomics. Methods Prospective, observational multicenter cohort study with 5-year follow-up. Patients receiving in-center hemodialysis in five facilities in Denmark were included. The primary composite endpoint was death caused by infection, bacteremia, and infections requiring hospitalization of at least 2 days or prolonging a hospital stay. Findings Of 331 patients included 210 patients reached the primary endpoint during follow-up. In adjusted Cox regression analyses, 14 plasma proteins were associated with severe infection. Correcting for multiple testing revealed only cathepsin-L1 and interleukin-6 significantly associated with the primary outcome. Cathepsin-L1-hazard ratio: 1.64 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24-2.17) and interleukin-6-hazard ratio: 1.16 (95% CI 1.05-1.29). Apparent C-statistics of the risk prediction model using clinical variables was 0.605, addition of cathepsin-L1 and interleukin-6 to the model improved discrimination slightly: C = 0.625. Discussion Proteomic profiling identified cathepsin-L1 and interleukin-6 as markers for infectious risk in hemodialysis patients. Further studies are needed to replicate the results and to examine possible causality. The developed risk prediction models need considerable improvement before implementation in clinical practice is meaningful.
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| 27. |
- Groopman, Emily E., et al.
(author)
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Diagnostic Utility of Exome Sequencing for Kidney Disease
- 2019
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In: New England Journal of Medicine. - 0028-4793 .- 1533-4406. ; 380:2, s. 142-151
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND Exome sequencing is emerging as a first-line diagnostic method in some clinical disciplines, but its usefulness has yet to be examined for most constitutional disorders in adults, including chronic kidney disease, which affects more than 1 in 10 persons globally.METHODS We conducted exome sequencing and diagnostic analysis in two cohorts totaling 3315 patients with chronic kidney disease. We assessed the diagnostic yield and, among the patients for whom detailed clinical data were available, the clinical implications of diagnostic and other medically relevant findings.RESULTS In all, 3037 patients (91.6%) were over 21 years of age, and 1179 (35.6%) were of self-identified non-European ancestry. We detected diagnostic variants in 307 of the 3315 patients (9.3%), encompassing 66 different monogenic disorders. Of the disorders detected, 39 (59%) were found in only a single patient. Diagnostic variants were detected across all clinically defined categories, including congenital or cystic renal disease (127 of 531 patients [23.9%]) and nephropathy of unknown origin (48 of 281 patients [17.1%]). Of the 2187 patients assessed, 34 (1.6%) had genetic findings for medically actionable disorders that, although unrelated to their nephropathy, would also lead to subspecialty referral and inform renal management.CONCLUSIONS Exome sequencing in a combined cohort of more than 3000 patients with chronic kidney disease yielded a genetic diagnosis in just under 10% of cases.
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| 28. |
- Herrington, William, et al.
(author)
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Impact of renal function on the effects of LDL cholesterol lowering with statin-based regimens : a meta-analysis of individual participant data from 28 randomised trials
- 2016
-
In: The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology. - 2213-8587 .- 2213-8595. ; 4:10, s. 829-839
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Statin therapy is effective for the prevention of coronary heart disease and stroke in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease, but its effects in individuals with more advanced disease, particularly those undergoing dialysis, are uncertain.METHODS: We did a meta-analysis of individual participant data from 28 trials (n=183 419), examining effects of statin-based therapy on major vascular events (major coronary event [non-fatal myocardial infarction or coronary death], stroke, or coronary revascularisation) and cause-specific mortality. Participants were subdivided into categories of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at baseline. Treatment effects were estimated with rate ratio (RR) per mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol.FINDINGS: Overall, statin-based therapy reduced the risk of a first major vascular event by 21% (RR 0·79, 95% CI 0·77-0·81; p<0·0001) per mmol/L reduction in LDL cholesterol. Smaller relative effects on major vascular events were observed as eGFR declined (p=0·008 for trend; RR 0·78, 99% CI 0·75-0·82 for eGFR ≥60 mL/min per 1·73 m(2); 0·76, 0·70-0·81 for eGFR 45 to <60 mL/min per 1·73 m(2); 0·85, 0·75-0·96 for eGFR 30 to <45 mL/min per 1·73 m(2); 0·85, 0·71-1·02 for eGFR <30 mL/min per 1·73 m(2) and not on dialysis; and 0·94, 0·79-1·11 for patients on dialysis). Analogous trends by baseline renal function were seen for major coronary events (p=0·01 for trend) and vascular mortality (p=0·03 for trend), but there was no significant trend for coronary revascularisation (p=0·90). Reducing LDL cholesterol with statin-based therapy had no effect on non-vascular mortality, irrespective of eGFR.INTERPRETATION: Even after allowing for the smaller reductions in LDL cholesterol achieved by patients with more advanced chronic kidney disease, and for differences in outcome definitions between dialysis trials, the relative reductions in major vascular events observed with statin-based treatment became smaller as eGFR declined, with little evidence of benefit in patients on dialysis. In patients with chronic kidney disease, statin-based regimens should be chosen to maximise the absolute reduction in LDL cholesterol to achieve the largest treatment benefits.FUNDING: UK Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, European Community Biomed Programme, Australian National Health and Medical Research Council, Australian National Heart Foundation.
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| 29. |
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| 30. |
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| 31. |
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| 32. |
- Holme, Ingar, et al.
(author)
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Comparison of predictive ability of lipoprotein components to that of traditional risk factors of coronary events in renal transplant recipients
- 2010
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In: Atherosclerosis. - : Elsevier BV. - 0021-9150 .- 1879-1484. ; 208:1, s. 234-239
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Risk factors for major adverse coronary events (MACE) in renal transplant recipients are often different from those of non-transplanted populations. We compared the predictive power of lipoprotein components (LC) to that of more traditional risk factors such as serum creatinine, diabetes and inflammation measured by C-reactive protein (CRP) in the assessment of lescol in renal transplantation (ALERT) trial population. METHODS: From the 2102 randomized patients in ALERT we selected 1734 patients with a complete set of risk and adjustment factors used in the study. Cox regression analysis was used to estimate relationships between baseline values of risk factors and first occurrence of MACE. Chi square statistics, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and net reclassification improvement (NRI) were used to compare the information value of different risk factors. RESULTS: Atherogenic LC and especially non-high density cholesterol (nHDL-C) were as predictive as creatinine and nHDL-C was about as predictive as diabetes. CRP, body mass index, hypertension and glucose had less prediction ability than nHDL-C. The rank order of prediction was the same in the two treatment groups. By regression modelling the actual MACE risk reduction from 6 weeks onwards was well predicted from the difference in LC at 6 week. CONCLUSION: LC and especially nHDL-C predicted MACE at least as good as creatinine. Diabetes was about equally good as nHDL-C to predict MACE occurrence. Inflammation had less prediction ability than the other factors. Treated levels of atherogenic LC predicted MACE risk reduction well.
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| 33. |
- Jardine, Alan G., et al.
(author)
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Cardiovascular risk and renal transplantation : post hoc analyses of the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation (ALERT) Study
- 2005
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In: American Journal of Kidney Diseases. - : Elsevier BV. - 0272-6386 .- 1523-6838. ; 46:3, s. 529-36
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Renal transplantation is associated with an increased risk for premature cardiovascular disease. We analyzed the data in the placebo arm of Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation (ALERT) to improve our understanding of the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and outcomes in this unique population. METHODS: We performed Cox survival analysis for myocardial infarction, cardiac death, and noncardiac death in 1,052 patients recruited to the placebo arm of ALERT. These subjects were aged 30 to 75 years, had stable graft function at least 6 months after transplantation, had a serum total cholesterol level between 155 and 348 mg/dL (4 and 9 mmol/L), and were receiving cyclosporine-based immunosuppression. RESULTS: The results confirm previous studies. In multivariate analysis, preexisting coronary heart disease (hazard ratio [HR], 3.69; P < 0.001), total cholesterol level (HR, 1.55 per 50 mg/dL; P = 0.0045), and prior acute rejection (HR, 2.36; P = 0.0023) were independent risk factors. Conversely, independent risk factors for cardiac death were age (HR, 1.58 per decade; P = 0.0033), diabetes (HR, 3.35; P = 0.0002), ST-T changes on the ECG (HR, 3.17; P = 0.0004), and serum creatinine level (HR, 2.65 per milligram per deciliter; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: This analysis confirms that renal transplant recipients share risk factors for myocardial infarction and cardiac death with the general population. However, the pattern of risk factors and their relationship with outcomes is atypical, highlighting the unique nature of cardiovascular risk in transplant recipients.
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| 34. |
- Klaasen, Rolf Anton, et al.
(author)
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A Fully Automated Method for the Determination of Serum Belatacept and Its Application in a Pharmacokinetic Investigation in Renal Transplant Recipients
- 2019
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In: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring. - : LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. - 0163-4356 .- 1536-3694. ; 41:1, s. 11-18
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Belatacept (Nulojix; Bristol-Myers Squibb, New York, NY) is a biological immunosuppressive drug used for the prophylaxis of acute rejection after renal transplantation. Few studies have described belatacept pharmacokinetics, and the effect of therapeutic drug monitoring has not been investigated. We have developed a drug-capture assay (using drug target) to measure belatacept in serum and applied this assay in a pharmacokinetic study in renal transplant recipients. Methods: CD80 was used to trap belatacept onto streptavidin-coated wells. Captured drug was quantified using Eu3+-labeled protein A and time-resolved fluorescence. The assay was applied in a pilot pharmacokinetic study in renal transplanted patients receiving belatacept infusions. Belatacept serum concentrations were determined at several time points between belatacept infusions. A simple population pharmacokinetic model was developed to visualize measured and predicted belatacept serum concentrations. Results: The assay range was 0.9-30 mg/L with accuracy within 91%-99% and coefficients of variation ranging from 1.2% to 3.6%. Predilution extended the measurement range to 130 mg/L with an accuracy of 90% and coefficients of variation of 3.8%. Samples were stable during storage at 48 degrees C for 15 days and during 2 freeze-thaw cycles. Belatacept concentrations were determined in a total of 203 serum samples collected during 26 infusion intervals from 5 renal transplant recipients. The population pharmacokinetic model visualized both measured and predicted concentrations. Conclusions: We have developed an automated, accurate, and precise assay for the determination of belatacept serum concentrations. The assay was successfully applied in a pharmacokinetic study in renal transplant recipients receiving belatacept infusions.
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| 35. |
- Kloster Smerud, Hilde, et al.
(author)
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New treatment for IgA nephropathy : enteric budesonide targeted to the ileocecal region ameliorates proteinuria
- 2011
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In: Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation. - : Oxford University Press (OUP): Policy B. - 0931-0509 .- 1460-2385. ; 26:10, s. 3237-3241
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background. Systemic corticosteroid treatment has been shown to exert some protection against renal deterioration in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) but is not commonly recommended for long-term use due to the well-known systemic side effects. In this study, we investigated the efficacy and safety of a new enteric formulation of the locally acting glucocorticoid budesonide (Nefecon (R)), designed to release the active compound in the ileocecal region. The primary objective was to evaluate the efficacy of targeted release budesonide on albuminuria. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMethods. Budesonide 8 mg/day was given to 16 patients with IgAN for 6 months, followed by a 3-month follow-up period. The efficacy was measured as change in 24-h urine albumin excretion, serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults. The median relative reduction in urinary albumin excretion was 23% during the treatment period (interquartile range: -0.36 to -0.04, P = 0.04) with pretreatment values ranging from 0.3 to 6 g/24 h (median: 1.5 g/24 h). The median reduction in urine albumin peaked at 40% (interquartile range: -0.58 to -0.15) 2 months after treatment discontinuation. Serum creatinine was reduced by 6% (interquartile range: -0.12 to -0.02; P = 0.003), and eGFR [Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD)] increased similar to 8% (interquartile range: 0.02-0.16, P = 0.003) during treatment. No major corticosteroid-related side effects were observed. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusions. In the present pilot study, enteric budesonide targeted to the ileocecal region had a significant effect on urine albumin excretion, accompanied by a minor reduction of serum creatinine and a modest increase of eGFR calculated by the MDRD equation, while eGFR calculated from Cockcroft-Gault equation and cystatin C was not changed. Enteric budesonide may represent a new treatment of IgAN warranting further investigation.
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| 36. |
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| 37. |
- Leierer, Johannes, et al.
(author)
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Identification of endophenotypes supporting outcome prediction in hemodialysis patients based on mechanistic markers of statin treatment
- 2024
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In: Heliyon. - : Elsevier. - 2405-8440. ; 10:9
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundStatins are widely used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on hemodialysis have significantly increased risk of developing CVD. Statin treatment in these patients however did not show a statistically significant benefit in large trials on a patient cohort level.MethodsWe generated gene expression profiles for statins to investigate the impact on cellular programs in human renal proximal tubular cells and mesangial cells in-vitro. We subsequently selected biomarkers from key statin-affected molecular pathways and assessed these biomarkers in plasma samples from the AURORA cohort, a double-blind, randomized, multi-center study of patients on hemodialysis or hemofiltration that have been treated with rosuvastatin. Patient clusters (phenotypes) were created based on the identified biomarkers using Latent Class Model clustering and the associations with outcome for the generated phenotypes were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. The multivariable models were adjusted for clinical and biological covariates based on previously published data in AURORA.ResultsThe impact of statin treatment on mesangial cells was larger as compared with tubular cells with a large overlap of differentially expressed genes identified for atorvastatin and rosuvastatin indicating a predominant drug class effect. Affected molecular pathways included TGFB-, TNF-, and MAPK-signaling and focal adhesion among others. Four patient clusters were identified based on the baseline plasma concentrations of the eight biomarkers. Phenotype 1 was characterized by low to medium levels of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and high levels of interleukin 6 (IL6) or matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and it was significantly associated with outcome showing increased risk of developing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) or cardiovascular death. Phenotype 2 had high HGF but low Fas cell surface death receptor (FAS) levels and it was associated with significantly better outcome at 1 year.ConclusionsIn this translational study, we identified patient subgroups based on mechanistic markers of statin therapy that are associated with disease outcome in patients on hemodialysis.
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| 38. |
- Mafham, Marion M, et al.
(author)
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Prognostic utility of estimated albumin excretion rate in chronic kidney disease : results from the Study of Heart and Renal Protection
- 2018
-
In: Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation. - : Oxford University Press. - 0931-0509 .- 1460-2385. ; 33:2, s. 257-264
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Estimated albumin excretion rate (eAER) provides a better estimate of 24-h albuminuria than albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR). However, whether eAER is superior to ACR in predicting end-stage renal disease (ESRD), vascular events (VEs) or death is uncertain.Methods: The prognostic utility of ACR and eAER (estimated from ACR, sex, age and race) to predict mortality, ESRD and VEs was compared using Cox proportional hazards regression among 5552 participants with chronic kidney disease in the Study of Heart and Renal Protection, who were not on dialysis at baseline.Results: During a median follow-up of 4.8 years, 1959 participants developed ESRD, 1204 had a VE and 1130 died (641 from a non-vascular, 369 from a vascular and 120 from an unknown cause). After adjustment for age, sex and eGFR, both ACR and eAER were strongly and similarly associated with ESRD risk. The average relative risk (RR) per 10-fold higher level was 2.70 (95% confidence interval 2.45-2.98) for ACR and 2.67 (2.43-2.94) for eAER. Neither ACR nor eAER provided any additional prognostic information for ESRD risk over and above the other. For VEs, there were modest positive associations between both ACR and eAER and risk [adjusted RR per 10-fold higher level 1.37 (1.22-1.53) for ACR and 1.36 (1.22-1.52) for eAER]. Again, neither measure added prognostic information over and above the other. Similar results were observed when ACR and eAER were related to vascular mortality [RR per 10-fold higher level: 1.64 (1.33-2.03) and 1.62 (1.32-2.00), respectively] or to non-vascular mortality [1.53 (1.31-1.79) and 1.50 (1.29-1.76), respectively].Conclusions: In this study, eAER did not improve risk prediction of ESRD, VEs or mortality.
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| 39. |
- Massy, Ziad A., et al.
(author)
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Association of Serum Phosphate with Efficacy of Statin Therapy in Hemodialysis Patients
- 2022
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In: American Society of Nephrology. Clinical Journal. - : American Society of Nephrology (ASN). - 1555-9041 .- 1555-905X. ; 17:4, s. 546-554
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and objectives: Statins are less efficacious in reducing cardiovascular disease risk in patients on dialysis than in the general population. Recent experimental data showed that phosphate excess promotes cellular de novo cholesterol synthesis through 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activation. Whether this mechanism might account for the resistance of patients on dialysis to statins has not yet been explored.Design, setting, participants, & measurements: In this post hoc analysis, we examined the efficacy of statin treatment according to serum phosphate levels in the patients on dialysis who were participants of the A Study to Evaluate the Use of Rosuvastatin in Subjects on Regular Hemodialysis: An Assessment of Survival and Cardiovascular Events (AURORA) trial using serum phosphate levels at baseline and during the trial course. We first classified the patients by groups of similar phosphate trajectories over time and tested whether phosphate as a longitudinal exposure (summarized by the identified trajectory groups) modulated the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause death. We replicate the analysis in the Deutsche Diabetes Dialyze Studie (4D) trial.Results: In the AURORA trial, using multivariable analysis, we found that the treatment effect of statin on major adverse cardiovascular events and all-cause death was significant and protective effects in patients with low values of serum phosphate gradually faded for higher phosphate levels > 5 mg/dl. A similar lack of statin treatment efficacy for both outcomes was observed with high baseline phosphate levels (> 5 mg/dl). In the 4D trial, we found a comparable but not significant trend toward losing treatment efficacy in the presence of high serum phosphate levels for both outcomes.Conclusions: Our results demonstrated the limited treatment efficacy of statins in patients on dialysis in the presence of hyperphosphatemia.
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| 40. |
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| 41. |
- Norby, Gudrun Elisabeth, et al.
(author)
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Effect of fluvastatin on cardiac outcomes in kidney transplant patients with systemic lupus erythematosus : a randomized placebo-controlled study
- 2009
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In: Arthritis and Rheumatism. - : Wiley. - 0004-3591 .- 1529-0131. ; 60:4, s. 1060-1064
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with or without end-stage renal failure, are at increased risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Although statin therapy has been found to reduce cardiovascular risk in the general population, its effectiveness in kidney transplant recipients with SLE has not been examined. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of fluvastatin on cardiac end points in a randomized controlled trial of renal transplant patients with SLE. METHODS: Patients with SLE were identified from among participants in the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation trial, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of fluvastatin (40-80 mg/day) on cardiovascular outcomes in renal transplant recipients. Patients were randomized to either a group receiving fluvastatin or a placebo group for the duration of the 5-6-year trial, and then invited to continue in a 2-year open-label extension during which all participants, regardless of original group, received fluvastatin. Patients were followed up for a total of 7-8 years for assessment of the primary end point of major cardiac events, comprising nonfatal myocardial infarction, cardiac death, and coronary intervention procedures. RESULTS: Fluvastatin reduced low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels by 29.2% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 18.3-40%), from a mean +/- SD of 4.0 +/- 0.9 mmoles/liter to 2.8 +/- 1.1 mmoles/liter, and total cholesterol by 19.6% (95% CI 11.7-27.5%), from 6.4 +/- 0.9 mmoles/liter to 5.1 +/- 1.1 mmoles/liter. Compared with placebo-treated patients, patients randomized to receive fluvastatin exhibited a 73.4% reduction in the risk of major cardiac events (relative risk 26.6 [95% CI 5.9-119.4], P = 0.064). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the effect of fluvastatin on cardiac events in renal transplant recipients with SLE is similar to that observed with statin therapy in the renal transplant population as a whole.
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| 42. |
- Oien, Cecilia Montgomery, et al.
(author)
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Gender-associated risk factors for cardiac end points and total mortality after renal transplantation : post hoc analysis of the ALERT study
- 2006
-
In: Clinical Transplantation. - : Wiley. - 0902-0063 .- 1399-0012. ; 20:3, s. 374-82
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Female gender offers a cardioprotective effect over men in the general population, but is lost in the dialysis population. Whether renal transplantation restores the gender-dependent cardiac protection and whether there is a difference in the impact of risk factors is not known. METHODS: This is a post hoc analysis of pre-defined end points in the placebo arm in the Assessment of Lescol in Renal Transplantation (ALERT) study, a study in renal transplant recipients. Cox regression was performed to estimate the association between different risk factors at baseline and non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) or cardiac death and total mortality, and specifically assess whether there are gender differences. RESULTS: The placebo arm included 1052 patients (mean age 50.1 +/- 11.1 yr, 65.3% males) with a mean follow-up of 65 months. The incidence of non-fatal MI or cardiac death was 10.9% vs. 7.9% (NS) and total mortality 13.3% vs. 12.8% (NS) in men and women. In multivariate analysis, previous coronary heart disease (CHD), diabetes, treatment for rejection and serum triglycerides were predictive for cardiac events in men, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio only in women. A slightly different risk-factor pattern appeared for total mortality. Diabetes, ECG abnormalities, plasma triglycerides, serum creatinine, time on dialysis and age predicted total mortality in men, while ECG abnormalities, LDL/HDL ratio and age were predictors in women. CONCLUSION: In this relatively low-risk population of renal transplant recipients, no gender difference in cardiac events or total mortality was observed, suggesting that female gender advantage regarding CHD is not restored following transplantation. The predictive value of risk factors differed in men and women.
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| 43. |
- Pihlstrøm, Hege K, et al.
(author)
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Genetic markers associated with long term cardiovascular outcome in kidney transplant recipients
- 2019
-
In: American Journal of Transplantation. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 1600-6135 .- 1600-6143. ; 19:5, s. 1444-1451
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is a clear genetic contribution to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, and a composite genetic risk score (GRS) based on 27 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was reported to predict risk of cardiovascular events in the general population. We aimed to evaluate this risk score in renal transplant recipients, a population with heightened cardiovascular risk, with a yet unknown genetic contribution. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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| 44. |
- Pihlstrøm, H. K., et al.
(author)
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Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Long-Term Clinical Outcome in Renal Transplant Patients : A Validation Study
- 2017
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In: American Journal of Transplantation. - : WILEY. - 1600-6135 .- 1600-6143. ; 17:2, s. 528-533
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) are designed to investigate single nucleotide polymor-phisms (SNPs) and the association with a clinical phenotype. A previous GWAS performed in 300 renal transplant recipients identified two SNPs (rs3811321 and rs6565887) associated with serum creatinine and clinical outcome. We sought to validate these findings. Genotyping of the two SNPs was performed using Taqman assays in 1638 Caucasians participating in the Assessment of LEscol in Renal Transplant (ALERT) study. Primary endpoint was death-censored graft loss, and secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. Applying Cox regression, no crude association to graft loss was found for rs3811321 on chromosome 14 (hazard ratio [HR] 0.87, 95% CI 0.59-1.29, p = 0.50) or rs6565887 on chromosome 18 (HR 0.88, CI 0.62-1.25, p = 0.48). Multivariable adjustments did not change results, nor did evaluation of the number of risk alleles formed by the two SNPs. No association with mortality was detected. In conclusion, an impact of two SNPs on chromosomes 14 and 18 on death-censored graft survival or all-cause mortality was not confirmed. Our results emphasize the importance of validating findings from high-throughput genetics studies and call for large collaborative research initiatives in the field of transplantation outcomes.
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| 45. |
- Rossignol, P, et al.
(author)
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NT-proBNP and stem cell factor plasma concentrations are independently associated with cardiovascular outcomes in end-stage renal disease hemodialysis patients
- 2022
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In: European Heart Journal Open. - : Oxford University Press. - 2752-4191. ; 2:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aimas: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) treated by chronic hemodialysis (HD) is associated with poor cardiovascular (CV) outcomes, with no available evidence-based therapeutics. A multiplexed proteomic approach may identify new pathophysiological pathways associated with CV outcomes, potentially actionable for precision medicine.Methods and Results: The AURORA trial was an international, multicentre, randomized, double-blind trial involving 2776 patients undergoing maintenance HD. Rosuvastatin vs. placebo had no significant effect on the composite primary endpoint of death from CV causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction or nonfatal stroke. We first compared CV risk-matched cases and controls (n = 410) to identify novel biomarkers using a multiplex proximity extension immunoassay (276 proteomic biomarkers assessed with OlinkTM). We replicated our findings in 200 unmatched cases and 200 controls. External validation was conducted from a multicentre real-life Danish cohort [Aarhus-Aalborg (AA), n = 331 patients] in which 92 OlinkTM biomarkers were assessed. In AURORA, only N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP, positive association) and stem cell factor (SCF) (negative association) were found consistently associated with the trial's primary outcome across exploration and replication phases, independently from the baseline characteristics. Stem cell factor displayed a lower added predictive ability compared with NT-ProBNP. In the AA cohort, in multivariable analyses, BNP was found significantly associated with major CV events, while higher SCF was associated with less frequent CV deaths.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that NT-proBNP and SCF may help identify ESRD patients with respectively high and low CV risk, beyond classical clinical predictors and also point at novel pathways for prevention and treatment.
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| 46. |
- Schlackow, Iryna, et al.
(author)
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A policy model of cardiovascular disease in moderate-to-advanced chronic kidney disease
- 2017
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In: Heart. - : BMJ. - 1355-6037 .- 1468-201X. ; 103:23, s. 1880-1890
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: To present a long-term policy model of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in moderate-to-advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).Methods: A Markov model with transitions between CKD stages (3B, 4, 5, on dialysis, with kidney transplant) and cardiovascular events (major atherosclerotic events, haemorrhagic stroke, vascular death) was developed with individualised CKD and CVD risks estimated using the 5 years' follow-up data of the 9270 patients with moderate-to-severe CKD in the Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) and multivariate parametric survival analysis. The model was assessed in three further CKD cohorts and compared with currently used risk scores.Results: Higher age, previous cardiovascular events and advanced CKD were the main contributors to increased individual disease risks. CKD and CVD risks predicted by the state-transition model corresponded well to risks observed in SHARP and external cohorts. The model's predictions of vascular risk and progression to end-stage renal disease were better than, or comparable to, those produced by other risk scores. As an illustration, at age 60-69 years, projected survival for SHARP participants in CKD stage 3B was 13.5 years (10.6 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)) in men and 14.8 years (10.7 QALYs) in women. Corresponding projections for participants on dialysis were 7.5 (5.6 QALYs) and 7.8 years (5.4 QALYs). A non-fatal major atherosclerotic event reduced life expectancy by about 2 years in stage 3B and by 1 year in dialysis.Conclusions: The SHARP CKD-CVD model is a novel resource for evaluating health outcomes and cost-effectiveness of interventions in CKD.
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| 47. |
- Silbernagel, Gunther, et al.
(author)
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High cholesterol absorption is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in haemodialysis patients : insights from the AURORA study
- 2022
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In: European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. - : Oxford University Press. - 2047-4873 .- 2047-4881. ; 29:13, s. 1731-1739
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims Statin treatment did not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in haemodialysis patients in the 4D and AURORA trials. Post hoc analyses in the 4D study suggested that high cholesterol absorption was associated with increased cardiovascular risk and that atorvastatin would reduce cardiovascular risk in haemodialysis patients with low cholesterol absorption but not in those with high cholesterol absorption. Methods and results AURORA is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multi-centre trial in haemodialysis patients. The participants were randomly assigned to receive either rosuvastatin, 10 mg daily, or a matching placebo. There was a follow-up for cardiovascular death with a median duration of 3.9 years. The cholestanol and lathosterol to cholesterol ratios were used to estimate cholesterol absorption and synthesis, respectively. Measurement of non-cholesterol sterols was available in 2332 participants of the 2733 patients included in the primary analysis of the AURORA study. A total of 598 participants died from cardiovascular diseases. The 3rd vs. the 1st tertile of the cholestanol-to-cholesterol ratio was significantly associated with increased risk of cardiovascular death [hazard ratio, HR (95% confidence interval, CI) = 1.36 (1.11-1.65)] in univariate (P = 0.002) and multivariate models (P = 0.034). In contrast, the 3rd vs. the 1st tertile of the lathosterol-to-cholesterol ratio was significantly associated with decreased risk of cardiovascular death [HR (95% CI) = 0.81 (0.67-0.99)] in univariate (P = 0.041) and multivariate (P = 0.019) models. There was no significant interaction between the cholestanol and lathosterol to cholesterol tertiles and treatment group in predicting cardiovascular death. Conclusion The present data from the AURORA study confirm that high cholesterol absorption is associated with increased cardiovascular risk in haemodialysis patients. Assessment of the individual cholesterol absorption rate to guide initiation of statin treatment is not supported by the findings in the AURORA study.
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| 48. |
- Solbu, Marit D, et al.
(author)
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Predictors of atherosclerotic events in patients on haemodialysis : post hoc analyses from the AURORA study.
- 2018
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In: Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0931-0509 .- 1460-2385. ; 33:1, s. 102-112
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Patients on haemodialysis (HD) are at high risk for cardiovascular events, but heart failure and sudden death are more common than atherosclerotic events. The A Study to Evaluate the Use of Rosuvastatinin in Subjects on Regular Hemodialysis: An Assessment of Survival and Cardiovascular Events (AURORA) trial was designed to assess the effect of rosuvastatin on myocardial infarction and death from any cardiac cause in 2773 HD patients. We studied predictors of the atherosclerotic cardiovascular events in AURORA.Methods: We readjudicated all deaths and presumed myocardial infarctions according to the criteria used in the Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP); these were specifically developed to separate atherosclerotic from non-atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. The readjudicated atherosclerotic end point included the first event of the following: non-fatal myocardial infarction, fatal coronary heart disease, non-fatal and fatal non-haemorrhagic stroke, coronary revascularization procedures and death from ischaemic limb disease. Stepwise Cox regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of such events.Results: During a mean follow-up of 3.2 years, 506 patients experienced the new composite atherosclerotic outcome. Age, male sex, prevalent diabetes, prior cardiovascular disease, weekly dialysis duration, baseline albumin [hazard ratio (HR) 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.94-0.99 per g/L increase], high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HR 1.13; 95% CI 1.04-1.22 per mg/L increase) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (HR 1.09; 95% CI 1.03-1.17 per 10 U/L increase) were selected as significant predictors in the model. Neither LDL cholesterol nor allocation to placebo/rosuvastatin therapy predicted the outcome.Conclusions: Even with the use of strict criteria for end point definition, non-traditional risk factors, but not lipid disturbances, predicted atherosclerotic events in HD patients.
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| 49. |
- Soveri, Inga, et al.
(author)
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Day-to-day variation of the kidney proximal tubular injury markers urinary cystatin C, KIM1, and NGAL in patients with chronic kidney disease
- 2020
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In: Renal failure. - 0886-022X .- 1525-6049. ; 42:1, s. 400-404
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: It is important to know the intraindividual variation of biomarkers to be able to distinguish a change of a biomarker due to the course of the disease from the normal biological variation of the marker. The purpose of this study was to investigate the day-to-day variability of urine markers in nephrology patients.Materials: 23 nephrology patients were included in the study. First morning urine samples were collected daily for ten consecutive days and analyzed for U-cystatin C, U-KIM1, U-NGAL and U-creatinine. The day-to-day variation was calculated as concentrations of the markers and as creatinine ratios. Values deviating more than the 90th percentile of the normal intraindividual variation was used to define a disease/treatment specific change.Results: The day-to-day coefficient of variation (CV) for individual patients varied between 9.6 and 100.3% for NGAL (mean 45.6%) and between 8.8 and 107.3% for the NGAL/creatinine ratio (mean 43.8%). The corresponding values for KIM1 were between 10.9 and 60.2% (mean 30.1%) and for the ratio between 8.7 and 59.8% (mean 23.4%) and for cystatin C 3.8-67.4% (mean 25.0%) and for the cystatin C/creatinine ratio 5.9-78.4% (mean 24.8%).Conclusions: The similar intraindividual CV values between the renal tubules damage markers and their corresponding creatinine ratios speaks against using creatinine ratio. Using the 90th percentiles of the CV values as a limit for clinical change means that NGAL has to change by 83.3%, KIM1 by 45.5% and Cystatin C by 46.3% before the change can be considered clinically significant in patients with chronic kidney disease.
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| 50. |
- Soveri, Inga, et al.
(author)
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Graft Loss Risk in Renal Transplant Recipients with Metabolic Syndrome : Subgroup Analyses of the ALERT Trial
- 2012
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In: JN. Journal of Nephrology (Milano. 1992). - 1121-8428 .- 1724-6059. ; 25:2, s. 245-254
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Several nonimmunologic risk factors for late renal graft loss (RGL) are also known components of metabolic syndrome (MS). We aimed to study MS as a risk factor for RGL. Also, the effect of statin treatment in reducing renal risk in renal transplant recipients (RTRs) with MS was studied. Methods: Nondiabetic RTRs (n=1,706) from the ALERT trial were followed for 7-8 years. MS was defined according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition with waist girth replaced by BMI =30 (calculated as kg/m2). Renal end points included death-censored RGL and graft loss or doubling of serum creatinine. Results: During the follow-up, 284 patients experienced RGL, and there were 343 cases of graft loss or doubling of serum creatinine. Those with MS had increased risk for RGL (relative risk = 1.28, 95% confidence interval, 1.00-1.63; p=0.047), but not for the combined end point. After adjustment for other known and potential risk factors, MS was no longer associated with increased risk for RGL. The association between MS and RGL risk was attenuated once adjustment for creatinine was made. Statin treatment did not reduce the risk for renal end points in RTRs with or without MS. Conclusion: MS had no independent association with RGL risk. Adjustment for renal function attenuated the association between MS and RGL.
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