title: Serum albumin, C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, and fetuin a as predictors of malnutrition, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in patients with ESRD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Serum albumin (S-Alb), C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) predict malnutrition, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Fetuin A, an inhibitor of vascular calcification, also is associated strongly with clinical outcome in patients with ESRD. In this study, multivariate analyses were performed to assess these 4 biomarkers as predictors of malnutrition, CVD, and mortality in patients with ESRD.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred seventy-six patients with ESRD (54 +/- 12 years) underwent measurements of S-Alb, high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP), plasma IL-6, and fetuin A close to the start of dialysis therapy and were followed up for a median of 26 months (range, 1 to 66 months). Nutritional status was evaluated by means of subjective global assessment. CVD was defined based on medical history. Associations between biomarker levels and malnutrition, CVD, and mortality were evaluated by means of receiver operating characteristic curve, logistic regression analysis, and Cox proportional hazards model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 4 biomarkers predicted malnutrition, CVD, and mortality. Multivariate analysis, according to receiver operating characteristic analysis, showed that malnutrition was predicted best by hs-CRP and IL-6 levels; CVD, by IL-6 level; and mortality, by albumin and IL-6 levels. When using the cutoff levels derived from receiver operating characteristics, logistic regression analysis showed that only hs-CRP level (odds ratio [OR], 3.6) was associated with malnutrition, and only IL-6 level (OR, 3.7) was associated with CVD. Levels of S-Alb, IL-6, and fetuin A, but not hs-CRP, were associated with increased relative risk for mortality as assessed by Cox in a model adjusting for age, sex, and diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Multivariate analyses show that in patients with ESRD, malnutrition is predicted best by hs-CRP and IL-6 levels; CVD, by IL-6 level; and mortality, by S-Alb, IL-6, and fetuin A levels, but not by hs-CRP level. This comparative analysis indicates that of these biomarkers, IL-6 level may be the most reliable predictor of CVD and mortality in patients with ESRD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Renal Medicine, Department of Clinical Science, Interventions and Technology, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Hirokazu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: Abdul Rashid
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.forename: Olof
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Heimbürger
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barany
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pecoits-Filho
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stenvinkel
authors.forename: Bengt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lindholm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012372:ROC Curve; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012709:Serum Albumin; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D002097:C-Reactive Protein