The Relationship Between Urotensin-II Level and Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Dialysis Patients

Objective: The most important cause of mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease is cardiovascular disease. Despite traditional risk factors being controlled, the lack of desired reduction in mortality rates has led to an investigation of new treatment strategies. In experimental studies, urotension-II has been shown to increase foam cell formation, reactive oxygen radicals, oxide-Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) levels, and matrix metalloproteinase expression and thus contributing to the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between urotension-II and carotid intima media thickness in dialysis patients.

Methods: This study included 33 hemodialysis patients, 35 peritoneal dialysis patients, and 15 healthy individuals. Patients with traditional risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease, such as diabetes mellitus, familial hypercholesterolemia, and a family history of early cardiac disease, were not included in the study. Furthermore, all individuals with active infection and malignancy were excluded. All laboratory data and urotension-II levels were analyzed. To prevent interobserver errors, carotid intima media thickness measurements were performed by a single radiologist.

Results: There was no difference between the groups in terms of age, gender, smoking, and dialysis duration. Urotension-II levels were significantly higher only in hemodialysis group compared to peritoneal dialysis and control groups. Carotid intima media thickness was significantly higher in both dialysis groups. Factors affecting carotid intima media thickness were age in peritoneal dialysis patients, as well as glucose, albumin, phosphorus, parathormone, interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and uric acid in hemodialysis patients.

Conclusion: Although the role of urotension-II in the development of atherosclerosis was demonstrated in experimental studies, no positive correlation was found between urotension-II and carotid intima media thickness in current study.

Cite this article as: Büberci R, Öztekin PS, Duranay M. The relationship between urotensin-II level and carotid intima media thickness in dialysis patients. Turk J Nephrol. 2022;31(4):328-334.