High sensitivity C-reactive protein as a predictive of intima-media thickness in patients with end-stage renal disease on regular hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: Several emerging problems of regular hemodialysis (HD) including cardiovascular complication or atherosclerosis formation caused by chronic inflammation. Intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery can be applied as a marker of atherosclerosis progression. This study was designed to identify the predictive of IMT progression among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) subject. METHODS: This cohort study was performed at the Hemodialysis Unit of Dr. Kariadi Hospital and Telogorejo Hospital Semarang between October 2009 and April 2010. The study subjects were the ESRD patients with regular HD. RESULTS: This study enrolled 78 subjects with regular HD, follow-up 6 months. The subjects which completed the study were divided into two groups that consist of IMT progressive group (n=53) and IMT non-progressive group (n=12). There were no differences between two groups according to age, gender, history of diabetes, blood pressure, duration of HD, urea, creatinine, blood glucose, HbA1C, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL, uric acid, phosphate, calcium, homocysteine, and albumin. Subject with high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level >0.52 mg/L had an IMT progression. There was a correlation between hsCRP and the thickening of carotid artery wall after 6-month HD (RR=3.6; 95% CI=2.2–22.9). The subject with hsCRP level >9.00 mg/L after 6-month dialysis progress to thickening of carotid artery wall of >0.03 mm. There was a correlation between hsCRP level (cut-off point: 9.0 m/L) and the progression of the carotid artery wall (RR=2.1; 95% CI=1.3–3.37). Statistically, there was no correlation between IL-6–174 G/C gene and eNOS gene polymorphism with IMT progression. CONCLUSION: hsCRP is a significant predictive of IMT progression at hemodialysis subject. IL −174 G/C gene and eNOS gene polymorphism are not significant predictive of IMT progression at hemodialysis subject.