Author:
Aleksandrov V.,Alekhina I.,Aleksandrov A.,Shilova L.,Aleksandrova N.,Zborovskaya I.
Abstract
BackgroundAccurate calculation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) is an important aspect of clinical care for rheumatologic patients [1, 2, 3].ObjectivesTo choose the optimal method of determining the GFR to assess the severity of renal dysfunction in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsAn open cross-sectional study was performed involving 96 patients with a reliable diagnosis of RA (mean age 54.4±11.6 years, duration of disease 10.7±8.56 years, 57.3% with moderate RA activity).For comparative assessment of renal function, we used the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using the CKD-EPI formulas on the National Kidney Foundation website (USA): creatinine-based equation (eGFRcr), cystatin C-based equation (eGFRcyst) and calculated creatinine and cystatin C equation (eGFRcr-cyst). The 2009 CKD-EPI creatinine equation (eGFRcr) was used as a reference for comparative calculations of GFR. Based on the eGFRcr measurements, patients with RA were divided into four groups: I, >90 ml/min/1.73 m2; II, 89-60 ml/min/1.73 m2; III, 45-59 ml/min/1.73 m2; and IV, <45 ml/min/1.73 m2.ResultsThe mean eGFRcr, presented as a reference in this study, was 70.0±18.7 ml/min/1.73 m2. Signs of hyperfiltration using eGFRcr (>90 ml/min/1.73 m2) were observed in 16 (10.1%) patients with RA, mild decrease of renal function (60-89 ml/min/1.73 m2) was registered in 52 (32.9%), moderate/severe decrease (<59 ml/min/1.73 m2) - in 28 (17.8%) patients with RA. Decreased eGFRcr was differentially associated with increased patient age (r=0.46; p=0.003), disease duration (r=0.24; p=0.017), cumulative dose of hormones (r=0.66; p=0.007), lower height (r= 0.35; p=0.001).Analysis of eGFR values demonstrated significant differences using the selected methods (χ2=9.91, p= 0.007). Intergroup differences (in degree of decrease in eGFR) were statistically significant for all variants of eGFR calculation (eGFRcr, eGFRcyst, eGFRcr-cyst; H-test and Median-test, p<0.001). According to the eGFRcr formula, an absolute majority of patients with RA (83.3%) had a decrease in GFR of varying severity (a slight decrease was registered in 54.2% of cases) (Table 1).Table 1.Group distribution of RA patients according to eGFR, n(%)Group IGroup IIGroup IIIGroup IVeGFRcr16 (17.0)52 (54.2)20 (20.8)8 (8.33)eGFRcr-cys22 (22.9)39 (40.6)20 (20.8)15 (15.6)eGFRcyst29 (30.2)29 (30.2)22 (22.9)16 (16.7)The use of eGFRcyst showed that only 12 of 29 people in the first group had optimal (>90 ml/min/1.73 m2) eGFRcr (p=0.031), and 17 patients entered the group with slightly decreased (60-89 ml/min/1.73 m2) eGFRcr. A similar, but less significant situation (12 of 22 people and 10 patients, p=0.02) was also observed with eGFRcr-cyst. In the second group of RA patients 19 patients corresponded to the chosen criteria in determination of eGFRcyst, and 8 patients entered groups (III and IV) with more severe decrease of renal function (2 patients were included into group I) (p=0,011). Significant differences in this group were also noted when comparing the proportions according to eGFRcr with eGFRcr-cyst (p=0.044). A probable decrease in renal filtration function with eGFRcr (compared with the alternative use of eGFRcr-cyst or eGFRcyst) can be observed in 11-18% of RA patients in group 1 (high/optimal renal function) and up to 10% of RA patients in group 2 (slight decrease). No significant differences were found using the three estimated CKD-EPI formulas in RA patients with moderate/significant decrease in GFR (p>0.05).ConclusionCurrently, the overall diagnostic performance of the CKD-EPI equation based on creatinine and cystatin C may be the most optimal (in comparison with other calculated CKD-EPI formulas) in patients with RA, and may also be useful for confirming eGFRcr results >60 ml/min/1.73m2.References[1]Saisho K. et al. Mod Rheumatol. 2016;26(3):331-5.[2]Couderc M. et al. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2016;68(5):638-44.[3]Aleksandrov V. et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2021;80(S1):1059. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-eular.2275.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared
Subject
General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology,Immunology,Immunology and Allergy,Rheumatology