Low serum leptin predicts mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5.
OBJECTIVE
Leptin, secreted from adipose tissue, regulates food intake, energy expenditure, and immune function. It is unknown whether leptin predicts mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 on hemodialysis therapy.


METHODS
We performed a prospective cohort study of 71 patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 in an outpatient hemodialysis center. Subjects were recruited in June 1998 and followed for 83 months. Survival was compared by the Kaplan-Meier method.


RESULTS
After 83 months of follow-up, 48 patients (68%) had died. Serum leptin concentrations at study entry were lower among all deceased patients compared with those patients who survived (5.2 +/- 9.0 microg/L; n = 48; vs. 7.7 +/- 7.8 microg/L; n = 23; p = 0.005). Baseline serum leptin concentrations were significantly lower in patients who died from cardiovascular diseases (4.7 +/- 9.4 microg/L, n = 32) or infections (4.0 +/- 2.7 microg/L; n = 10; each p < 0.05), but not cancer (9.4 +/- 7.9 microg/L; n = 6), than in survivors (7.7 +/- 7.8 microg/L; n = 23; p = 0.003). The relative risk for mortality in patients with serum leptin concentrations below the median (<2.6 microg/L) compared with patients above the median was 1.96 (95% confidence interval, 1.01 to 3.79; p = 0.04). Survival was shorter in patients with leptin concentrations below the median compared with those whose leptin concentrations were above the median (all-cause mortality, chi(2) = 5.05; p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Low serum leptin concentration is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease stage 5 on hemodialysis therapy.
Scholze
Alexandra
A
Med. Klinik IV, Nephrologie, Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany.
Rattensperger
Dirk
D
Zidek
Walter
W
Tepel
Martin
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D016019:Survival Analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin