title: Circulating endoglin concentration is not elevated in chronic kidney disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Soluble endoglin, a TGF-β receptor, plays a key role in cardiovascular physiology. Whether circulating concentrations of soluble endoglin are elevated in CKD or underlie the high risk of cardiovascular death associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Individuals with and without CKD were recruited at a single center. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated using the modified MDRD study equation and the serum creatinine at the time of recruitment, and patients were assigned to specific CKD stage according to usual guidelines. Serum endoglin concentration was measured by ELISA and univariate and multivariable regression was used to analyze the association between eGFR or CKD stage and the concentration of soluble endoglin.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum endoglin was measured in 216 patients including 118 with stage 3 or higher CKD and 9 individuals with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Serum endoglin concentration did not vary significantly with CKD stage (increase of 0.16 ng/mL per 1 stage increase in CKD, P = 0.09) or eGFR (decrease -0.06 ng/mL per 10 mL/min/1.73 m(2) increase in GFR, P = 0.12), and was not higher in individuals with ESRD than in individuals with preserved renal function (4.2±1.1 and 4.3±1.2 ng/mL, respectively). Endoglin concentration was also not significantly associated with urinary albumin excretion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Renal function is not associated with the circulating concentration of soluble endoglin. Elevations in soluble endoglin concentration are unlikely to contribute to the progression of CKD or the predisposition of individuals with CKD to develop cardiovascular disease.
authors: Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America. dcharytan@partners.org
authors: David M
authors: DM
authors: Charytan
authors: Alexander M
authors: AM
authors: Helfand
authors: Brian A
authors: BA
authors: MacDonald
authors: Angeles
authors: A
authors: Cinelli
authors: Raghu
authors: R
authors: Kalluri
authors: Elisabeth M
authors: EM
authors: Zeisberg
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D000071063:Endoglin; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood*; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta