title: Protein-energy wasting and mortality in chronic kidney disease.
abstract: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with an increased death risk from cardiovascular diseases. However, while even minor renal dysfunction is an independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular prognosis, PEW becomes clinically manifest at an advanced stage, early before or during the dialytic stage. Mechanisms causing loss of muscle protein and fat are complex and not always associated with anorexia, but are linked to several abnormalities that stimulate protein degradation and/or decrease protein synthesis. In addition, data from experimental CKD indicate that uremia specifically blunts the regenerative potential in skeletal muscle, by acting on muscle stem cells. In this discussion recent findings regarding the mechanisms responsible for malnutrition and the increase in cardiovascular risk in CKD patients are discussed. During the course of CKD, the loss of kidney excretory and metabolic functions proceed together with the activation of pathways of endothelial damage, inflammation, acidosis, alterations in insulin signaling and anorexia which are likely to orchestrate net protein catabolism and the PEW syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplantation, Department of Internal Medicine, Azienda Ospedale Università San Martino, Genoa University, Viale Benedetto XV 6, Genoa, Italy. alice.bonanni@libero.it
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonanni
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mannucci
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Verzola
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sofia
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saffioti
authors.forename: Ezio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gianetta
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Garibotto
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers; D001823:Body Composition; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000209:etiology*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004044:Dietary Proteins