Tubular damage in chronic systolic heart failure is associated with reduced survival independent of glomerular filtration rate.
BACKGROUND
The prognostic impact of reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in chronic heart failure (CHF) is increasingly recognised, but little is known about tubular damage in these patients.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of tubular damage, and its association with GFR, and prognosis in patients with CHF.


RESULTS
In 90 patients with CHF, GFR and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were measured ([(125)I]iothalamate and [(131)I]hippuran clearances). The tubular markers neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) as well as urinary albumin excretion were determined in 24 h urine collections. Mean GFR was 78+/-26 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Urinary NGAL (175 (70-346) microg/g creatinine (gCr)), NAG (12 (6-17) U/gCr) and KIM-1 (277 (188-537) ng/gCr) levels were increased compared with 20 healthy controls (all p<0.001). Urinary NAG, but not NGAL or KIM-1 correlated with GFR (r=-0.34, p=0.001) and ERPF (r=-0.29, p=0.006). Both NAG (r=0.21, p=0.048) and KIM-1 (r=0.23, p=0.033) correlated with plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels. Both urinary KIM-1 (HR=1.15 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.30) per 100 ng/gCr increase, p=0.025) and NAG (HR=1.42 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.94) per 5 U/gCr increase, p=0.039), were associated with an increased risk of death or heart failure hospitalisations, independent of GFR.


CONCLUSIONS
Tubular damage, as indicated by increased urinary concentrations of NGAL, NAG and KIM-1 is common in patients with CHF and mildly reduced GFR. Both urinary KIM-1 and NAG showed prognostic information additional to GFR. These findings suggest an important role for tubular damage and tubular markers in cardiorenal interaction in heart failure.
Damman
Kevin
K
Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Van Veldhuisen
Dirk J
DJ
Navis
Gerjan
G
Vaidya
Vishal S
VS
Smilde
Tom D J
TD
Westenbrink
B Daan
BD
Bonventre
Joseph V
JV
Voors
Adriaan A
AA
Hillege
Hans L
HL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D054143:Heart Failure, Systolic / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers