The relation between apelin levels, echocardiographic findings and carotid intima media thickness in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Apelin expressed in endothelial and other tissues including brain and kidney is an adipocytokine defined recently and is emerging an important mediator of cardiovascular homeostasis. The aim of this study was to test whether apelin levels might be associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in peritoneal dialysis patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fifty peritoneal dialysis patients (25 female, mean age 41.4 ± 11.9 years, mean dialysis vintage 65.0 ± 35.4 months) and 18 healthy individuals (9 female, mean age 41.7 ± 6.8 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Serum apelin 12 levels, echocardiographic findings and carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) were recorded as well as clinical and laboratory data.

RESULTS

There were no differences between the patient and the control groups with regard to demographic characteristics. In patient group, LVMI, CIMT, CRP and apelin levels were elevated compared to control group. However there was no association between apelin, LVMI and CIMT. There was a positive correlation between apelin and CRP, which was not statistically significant. When patients were divided into two groups according to the mean serum apelin levels, LVMI, CIMT and CRP were higher in the high apelin group but this difference did not reach statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

We observed an increased inflammation and CVD risk in peritoneal dialysis patients. However, serum apelin levels seem not to be associated with cardiovascular risk in this group of patients.