title: Variations in glomerular filtration rate are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in healthy postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aims to evaluate the potential effects of renal function variations on vascular structure before the development of hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  This pilot study included 141 postmenopausal women without evidence of renal dysfunction or hypertension. Markers of renal function and levels of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)--using standard calculations (GFR based on levels of creatinine [GFR(epi)]) and newer creatinine and/or cystatin calculations (GFR based on levels of creatinine and cystatin [GFR(cr cystatin)] and GFR based on levels of cystatin [GFR(cystatin)])--were associated with hemodynamic parameters and markers of vascular structure (intima-media thickness [IMT] and presence of atheromatous plaques in carotid and femoral arteries).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of GFR(epi), GFR(cr cystatin), and GFR(cystatin) exhibited a significant negative correlation with femoral artery IMT, whereas levels of GFR(epi) correlated significantly with mean carotid bulb (CB) IMT. Multivariate analysis showed that CB-IMT was predicted by GFR(epi) levels and age (β-coefficient = -0.212, P = 0.020), whereas femoral artery IMT was predicted by GFR(epi) levels (β-coefficient = -0.293, P = 0.001). GFR(epi) levels lower than the 25th percentile were associated with higher CB-IMT (P = 0.009), femoral artery IMT (P = 0.001), and combined IMT (P = 0.035) compared with higher GFR(epi) levels. Moreover, GFR(epi) levels greater than the 25th percentile were associated with lower odds for the presence of atherosclerotic plaques at the CB and carotid arteries combined (CB: odds ratio, 0.146; P = 0.006; combined: odds ratio, 0.249; P = 0.043) compared with lower GFR(epi) levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A mild decrease in renal function within normal limits of GFR is independently associated with the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in a sample of apparently healthy young postmenopausal women. Assessment of GFR using creatinine (vs cystatin C) levels is a more sensitive marker of its association with IMT and atherosclerotic plaques in this postmenopausal population.
authors: From the 1Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and 2Hormonal and Biochemical Laboratory, University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, Athens, Greece; and 3Department of Therapeutics, University of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors: Irene
authors: I
authors: Lambrinoudaki
authors: Dimitrios
authors: D
authors: Tourlakis
authors: Eleni
authors: E
authors: Armeni
authors: Georgios
authors: G
authors: Kaparos
authors: Demetrios
authors: D
authors: Rizos
authors: Areti
authors: A
authors: Augoulea
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Alexandrou
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Kreatsa
authors: Efthymios
authors: E
authors: Deligeoroglou
authors: Kimon
authors: K
authors: Stamatelopoulos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D015891:Cystatins / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000473:pathology; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015891:Cystatins; D003404:Creatinine