Relation of C-Reactive Protein to Chronic Kidney Disease in African Americans

African Americans have an increased incidence and worse prognosis with chronic kidney disease (CKD - estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 ml/min/1.73 m^2) than their counterparts of European-descent. Inflammation has been related to renal disease in non-Hispanic whites, but there are limited data on the role of inflammation in renal dysfunction in African Americans in the community.

The study examined the cross-sectional relation of log transformed C-reactive protein (CRP) to renal function (eGFR by Modification of Diet and Renal Disease equation) in African American participants of the community-based Jackson Heart Study's first examination (2000 to 2004).

Multivariable linear regression was conducted, relating CRP to eGFR adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, total/HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, smoking, antihypertensive therapy, lipid lowering therapy, hormone replacement therapy, and prevalent cardiovascular disease events. In a secondary analysis the association of CRP with albuminuria (defined as albumin-to-creatinine ratio >30 mg/g ) was assessed.

The results showed that participants (n=4320, 63.2% women) had a mean age +/- SD of 54.0+/-12.8 years.

The prevalence of CKD was 5.2% (n=228 cases). In multivariable regression, CRP concentrations were higher in those with CKD compared to those without CKD. CRP was significantly associated with albuminuria in sex and age adjusted model however not in the multivariable adjusted model (p>0.05).

Conclusion: CRP was associated with CKD but not albuminuria in multivariable-adjusted analyses.

BMC Nephrology 2010, 11:1