Nontraditional Cardiovascular Biomarkers and Estimation of Cardiovascular Risk in Predialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients and Their Correlations With Carotid Intima Media Thickness

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular biomarkers such as N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), cardiac troponin T (cTnT), hs-CRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein), and albuminuria predict underlying heart disease in the general population as well as CKD patients. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to study the association of NT-proBNP, cTnT, hs-CRP, and spot urine albumin creatinine ratio with carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) for cardiovascular risk estimation in predialysis CKD (chronic kidney disease) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study included a total of 120 adult predialysis CKD patients. Forty patients were allocated in each predialysis CKD group of stages 3, 4, and 5. Serum cTnT and hs-CRP, plasma NT-proBNP, and single spot urine albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were measured. Ultrasonographic examination of carotid artery was done with 7.5 MHz linear probe in B mode ultrasonography and carotid intima media thickness was measured. RESULTS: Mean values ± standard deviation of plasma NT-proBNP (pg/mL), serum hs-CRP (mg/L), spot urine ACR (mg/g of creatinine), and CIMT (mm) were 585.68 ± 514.84, 5.96 ± 2.52, 719.37 ± 411.36, and 0.78 ± 0.15, respectively in predialysis CKD patients (n = 120). Serum cTnT level was high in 40% of predialysis CKD patients. Among cardiovascular biomarkers, plasma NT-proBNP had maximum strength of correlation (Spearman Rho correlation coefficient; r = 0.575 and P < 0.0001) with the carotid intima media thickness followed by serum cTnT (Spearman Rho correlation coefficient; r = 0.419 and P < 0.0001), spot urine albumin creatinine ratio (Spearman Rho correlation coefficient; r = 0.322 and P < 0.0001), and serum hs-CRP (Spearman Rho correlation coefficient; r = 0.246 and P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Nontraditional cardiovascular biomarkers such as plasma NT-proBNP, serum cTnT, serum hs-CRP, and spot urine ACR significantly correlate with CIMT. These biomarkers can estimate the cardiovascular risk in a predialysis CKD population with expected high cardiac morbidity and mortality.