The relationship between serum salusins levels and atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and cardiac morphology in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

PURPOSE

We aimed to assess the associations between serum salusins levels and atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction and cardiac morphology in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD).

METHODS

This study comprised 83 patients with ADPKD, and 53 healthy individuals. Salusin α and β levels were measured by ELISA. Echocardiography, flow-mediated vasodilatation, and carotid artery intima-media thickness measurements were conducted.

RESULTS

Serum salusin α levels were significantly lower and the salusin β/α ratio was significantly higher in the patient group compared to Controls [2.64 (1.83-3.30) pg/mL vs. 3.20 (2.55-7.87) pg/mL, P = 0.002 and 2.81 (2.30-3.54) vs. 2.64 (2.02-3.18), P = 0.041, respectively]. Patients were further categorized into two groups: Group 1 (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m) and Group 2 (eGFR = 59-15 mL/min/1.73 m). The salusin α level was 2.31 (1.73-3.24) pg/mL in Group 2 and 2.72 (1.94-3.32) pg/mL in Group 1. In the correlation analysis performed in Group 2, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between salusin α and left ventricular mass (LVM) and LVM index (P = 0.019, P = 0.015, respectively), as well as a statistically significant positive correlation between salusin β/α ratio and LVM (P = 0.004) and LVM index (P = 0.025). In Group 1, a statistically significant positive correlation was detected between proteinuria and salusin β (P = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

In patients with ADPKD, salusin α was found to be significantly lower, while salusin β/α ratio was found to be significantly higher compared to healthy individuals. Low salusin α levels and high salusin β/α ratio were associated with LVM in advanced stages of ADPKD and salusin β was associated with proteinuria in early stage of ADPKD patients.