title: Sonographic evaluation of para- and perirenal fat thickness is an independent predictor of early kidney damage in obese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether para- and perirenal fat ultrasonographic thickness (PFUT) is related to increased urinary albumin excretion and whether PFUT is an independent indicator of early kidney damage in obese subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-seven nonhypertensive, nondiabetic obese patients and 34 age- and sex-matched normal healthy volunteers were involved in this study. Clinical characteristics, blood biochemistry, PFUT, and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) of the subjects were measured. The intraoperator and interoperator coefficient of variation was 5.6 and 3.2 %, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ACR and PFUT were significantly higher in obese patients than those of normal healthy volunteers. PFUT was higher in obese patients with microalbuminuria than those with normoalbuminuria. Correlation analysis showed PFUT had a positive correlation with body mass index (BMI, r = 0.677, P < 0.01), waist circumference (WC, r = 0.686, P < 0.01), plasma free fatty acids (FFAs, r = 0.589, P < 0.01), and ACR (r = 0.610, P < 0.01). ACR had a positive correlation with BMI (r = 0.444, P < 0.01), WC (r = 0.440, P < 0.01), and plasma FFAs (r = 0.496, P < 0.01). Multivariate regression analyses showed that ACR could be predicted by PFUT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PFUT may be an independent predictor of early kidney damage in nonhypertensive, nondiabetic obese patients, and PFUT could be a useful tool for the assessment of visceral fat and early kidney damage in obese patients.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, No.2428, Yuhe Road, Weifang, 261031, Shandong, China, sxdfriend@sina.com.
authors: Xiaodong
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Fang
authors: F
authors: Han
authors: Wei
authors: W
authors: Miao
authors: Ningning
authors: N
authors: Hou
authors: Zhibin
authors: Z
authors: Cao
authors: Guangdong
authors: G
authors: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000209:etiology* / Q000652:urine; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000652:urine; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D003404:Creatinine