title: The association between renal function biomarkers and subclinical cardiovascular measures in African Caribbean families.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality are increased in people with subclinical CVD. The impact of ethnicity and race on subclinical CVD is substantial. Previous studies assessed the heritability of several renal function biomarkers and their relationship with subclinical CVD among populations of European ancestries, but, to our knowledge, no such data are available in African ancestry populations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our aim was to investigate the relationships between renal function biomarkers and subclinical CVD among Afro-Caribbeans residing on the island of Tobago.
  
  
  METHODS
  402 participants, aged 18 to 103 years, from seven large, multi-generation pedigrees (average family size: 50; range: 19 to 96; -3500 relative pairs) were included in this study. Subclinical cardiovascular disease (SCVD) was assessed by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Serum cystatin C, creatinine, and eGFR based on the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation were used to assess kidney function. The variance component approach, implemented in Sequential Oligogenic Linkage Analysis Routines (SOLAR), was used to assess heritability of these traits, and association with SCVD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heritability of renal function biomarkers ranged from .19-.32 (all P < .001), and was highest for cystatin C (h2 = .32, P < .0001). Serum cystatin C was independently associated with arterial stiffness (P = .04). This association was not found with other renal function biomarkers. No significant association between renal function and IMT was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that cystatin C is significantly heritable and associated with arterial stiffness among Afro-Caribbeans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Hu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuipers
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Candace M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Kammerer
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Clareanne H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Bunker
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Lewis H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Kuller
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Iva
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Miljkovic
authors.affiliation: The Tobago Health Studies Office, Scarborough, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago.
authors.forename: Alan L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Patrick
authors.affiliation: The Tobago Health Studies Office, Scarborough, Tobago, Trinidad & Tobago.
authors.forename: Victor W
authors.initials: VW
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, 130 DeSoto Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Zmuda
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D044383:Black People; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers