Inflammatory mediators could provide link between obesity, CKD
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PHILADELPHIA — The association between obesity and chronic kidney disease may be partially explained by inflammatory cytokines and high levels of leptin, according to data from a study presented at ASN Kidney Week.
The data showed that inflammatory and proinflammatory mediators were highest in obese patients, with maximum aberrations occurring in obese patients with CKD, suggesting a potential link.
“Obese patients are in a state of micro-inflammation with higher pro-inflammatory cytokines and leptin, which are most raised in patients with obesity and CKD,” Sandeep Mahajan, MD, a professor in the department of nephrology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said.
Mahajan said that increasing rates of obesity have contributed higher incidences of CKD around the world, serving as an independent risk factor, as well as often being comorbid with other CKD risk factors such as hypertension.
However, Mahajan noted that the precise mechanisms involved in the link between obesity and CKD were “poorly studied,” leaving some unanswered questions.
“The higher association between obesity and CKD is not entirely explained by the higher constellation of risk factors and proinflammatory state mediated by cytokines, and adipokines could be the missing link,” Mahajan said.
In their study, Mahajan and colleagues examined data for 50 obese patients with CKD and 50 obese patients without CKD. Although all patients had higher levels of HsCRP, leptin and IL6, those with CKD were found to have a low level of adiponectin.
“[We were surprised by] the very low levels of adipokines in the obese patients with complications but high levels in obese patients without complications,” Mahajan said.
Mahajan said that a larger, prospective study will be needed.
Reference:
- Mahajan S, et al. TH-PO1059.. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week; Nov. 2-5, 2023; Philadelphia.
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