A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

[Posted 1/Mar/2024]

AUDIENCE: Nephrology, Internal Medicine

KEY FINDINGS: Lower eGFR and greater albuminuria were independently associated with increased risk of incident AF. CKD should be regarded as an independent risk factor for incident AF.

BACKGROUND: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) often coexist. However, it is not known whether CKD is an independent risk factor for incident AF. Therefore, we evaluated the association between markers of CKD-estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albuminuria-and incident AF.

DETAILS: Participants with measurement of eGFR and/or albuminuria who were not receiving dialysis.Selection Criteria for Studies: Cohort studies and randomized controlled trials were included that reported incident AF risk in adults according to eGFR and/or albuminuria. Age- or multivariate-adjusted risk ratios (RRs) for incident AF were extracted from cohort studies, and RRs for each trial were derived from event data. RRs for incident AF were pooled using random-effects models. 38 studies involving 28,470,249 participants with 530,041 incident AF cases were included. Adjusted risk of incident AF was greater among participants with lower eGFR than those with higher eGFR (eGFR <60 vs >=60 mL/min/1.73 m²: RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.30-1.57; and eGFR <90 vs >=90 mL/min/1.73 m²: RR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.26-1.60). Adjusted incident AF risk was greater among participants with albuminuria (any albuminuria vs no albuminuria: RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.25-1.63; and moderately to severely increased albuminuria vs normal to mildly increased albuminuria: RR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.31-2.06). Subgroup analyses showed an exposure-dependent association between CKD and incident AF, with the risk increasing progressively at lower eGFR and higher albuminuria

Copyright © Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Source: Ha, J. T., Freedman, S. B., Kelly, D. M., et al. (2024). Kidney Function, Albuminuria, and Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. American Journal of Kidney Diseases. Published: March, 2024. DOI: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2023.07.023.

[Posted 12/Jul/2024]

AUDIENCE: Internal Medicine

KEY FINDINGS: The challenge is defining the optimal combination of biomarkers, imaging and morbidity/mortality outcomes and ensuring that they are included in future trials while minimizing the burden on patients, trialists and trial sponsors. This paper provides an overview of some of the wide array of CV, liver and kidney measurements that were discussed at the MOSAIC meeting.

BACKGROUND: Steatotic liver disease (SLD) is a worldwide public health problem, causing considerable morbidity and mortality. Patients with SLD are at increased risk for major adverse cardiovascular (CV) events, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease.

DETAILS: Conversely, patients with cardiometabolic conditions have a high prevalence of SLD. In addition to epidemiological evidence linking many of these conditions, there is evidence of shared pathophysiological processes. In December 2022, a unique multi-stakeholder, multi-specialty meeting, called MOSAIC (Metabolic multi Organ Science Accelerating Innovation in Clinical Trials) was convened to foster collaboration across metabolic, hepatology, nephrology and CV disorders. One of the goals of the meeting was to consider approaches to drug development that would speed regulatory approval of treatments for multiple disorders by combining liver and cardiorenal endpoints within a single study. Non-invasive tests, including biomarkers and imaging, are needed in hepatic and cardiorenal trials. They can be used as trial endpoints, to enrich trial populations, to diagnose and risk stratify patients and to assess treatment efficacy and safety. Although they are used in proof of concept and phase 2 trials, they are often not acceptable for regulatory approval of therapies.

Copyright © John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All rights reserved

Source: Zannad, F., Sanyal, A. J., Butler, J., et al. (2024). MASLD and MASH At the Crossroads of Hepatology Trials and Cardiorenal Metabolic Trials. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2024; 296(1): 24-38. Published: July, 2024. DOI: 10.1111/joim.13793.

[Posted 9/May/2024]

AUDIENCE: Nephrology, Internal Medicine

KEY FINDINGS: Kidney outcome in patients with biopsied IgA vasculitis nephritis treated with immunosuppression was determined by clinical risk factors and endocapillary hypercellularity (E1) and fibrous crescents, which are features that are not part of the International Study of Diseases of Children classification.

BACKGROUND: Nephritis is a common manifestation of IgA vasculitis and is morphologically indistinguishable from IgA nephropathy. While MEST-C scores are predictive of kidney outcomes in IgA nephropathy, their value in IgA vasculitis nephritis has not been investigated in large multiethnic cohorts.

DETAILS: Biopsies from 262 children and 99 adults with IgA vasculitis nephritis (N=361) from 23 centers in North America, Europe, and Asia were independently scored by three pathologists. MEST-C scores were assessed for correlation with eGFR/proteinuria at biopsy. Because most patients (N=309, 86%) received immunosuppression, risk factors for outcomes were evaluated in this group using latent class mixed models to identify classes of eGFR trajectories over a median follow-up of 2.7 years (interquartile range, 1.2-5.1). Clinical and histologic parameters associated with each class were determined using logistic regression. M, E, T, and C scores were correlated with either eGFR or proteinuria at biopsy. Two classes were identified by latent class mixed model, one with initial improvement in eGFR followed by a late decline (class 1, N=91) and another with stable eGFR (class 2, N=218). Class 1 was associated with a higher risk of an established kidney outcome (time to >= 30% decline in eGFR or kidney failure; hazard ratio, 5.84; 95% confidence interval, 2.37 to 14.4). Among MEST-C scores, only E1 was associated with class 1 by multivariable analysis. Other factors associated with class 1 were age 18 years and younger, male sex, lower eGFR at biopsy, and extrarenal noncutaneous disease. Fibrous crescents without active changes were associated with class 2.

Copyright © American Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved.

Source: Barbour, S., Coppo, R., Lee, E., et al. (2024). Histologic and Clinical Factors Associated with Kidney Outcomes in IgA Vasculitis Nephritis. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology . 2024; 19(4): 438-451. Published: May, 2024. DOI: 10.2215/CJN.0000000000000398.

A Long-term Follow-up Study

[Posted 26/Feb/2024]

AUDIENCE: Endocrinology, Nephrology

KEY FINDINGS: Impaired glucose tolerance and reduced early-phase insulin response to glucose are involved in the development of new-onset diabetes after DP; the latter is an additional factor in the development of diabetes and becomes apparent when pancreatic beta cell mass is reduced after DP.

BACKGROUND: Aim of this study is to investigate the changes in diabetes-related traits before and after DP and to clarify the incidence of diabetes and its predictors.

DETAILS: Among 493 registered patients, 117 underwent DP. Among these, 56 patients without diabetes before surgery were included in the study. Glucose and endocrine function were prospectively assessed using a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test preoperatively, 1 month after DP, and every 6 months thereafter for up to 36 months. Pancreatic volumetry was performed using multidetector row computed tomography before and after surgery. Insulin secretion decreased and blood glucose levels worsened after DP. Residual pancreatic volume was significantly associated with the reserve capacity of insulin secretion but not with blood glucose levels or the development of diabetes. Among 56 patients, 33 developed diabetes mellitus. The cumulative incidence of diabetes at 36 months after DP was 74.1%. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that impaired glucose tolerance as a preoperative factor as well as a decreased insulinogenic index and impaired glucose tolerance at 1 month postoperatively were identified as risk factors for diabetes following DP.

Copyright © The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved.

Source: Imamura, S., Niwano. F., Babaya, N., et al. (2024). High Incidence of Diabetes Mellitus After Distal Pancreatectomy and Its Predictors: A Long-term Follow-up Study. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2024; 109(3): 619-630. Published: March, 2024. DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad634.

[Posted 22/Jan/2024]

AUDIENCE: Nephrology, Internal Medicine

KEY FINDINGS: Biomarkers of tubular injury and inflammation were associated with kidney structural parameters in early type 1 diabetes and may be indicators of kidney disease risk.

BACKGROUND: Whether biomarkers of tubular injury and inflammation indicate subclinical structural kidney pathology early in type 1 diabetes remains unknown.

DETAILS: Authors investigated associations of biomarkers of tubular injury and inflammation with kidney structural features in 244 adults with type 1 diabetes from the Renin-Angiotensin System Study, a randomized, placebo-controlled trial testing effects of enalapril or losartan on changes in glomerular, tubulointerstitial, and vascular parameters from baseline to 5-year kidney biopsies. Biosamples at biopsy were assessed for kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), soluble TNF receptor 1 (sTNFR1), arginine-to-citrulline ratio in plasma, and uromodulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in urine. We examined cross-sectional correlations between biomarkers and biopsy features and baseline biomarker associations with 5-year changes in biopsy features. Participants' mean age was 30 years (SD 10) and diabetes duration 11 years (SD 5); 53% were women. The mean GFR measured by iohexol disappearance was 128 ml/min per 1.73 m2 (SD 19) and median urinary albumin excretion was 5 μg/min (interquartile range, 3–8). KIM-1 was associated with most biopsy features: higher mesangial fractional volume (0.5% [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.1 to 0.9] greater per SD KIM-1), glomerular basement membrane (GBM) width (14.2 nm [95% CI, 6.5 to 22.0] thicker), cortical interstitial fractional volume (1.1% [95% CI, 0.6 to 1.6] greater), fractional volume of cortical atrophic tubules (0.6% [95% CI, 0.2 to 0.9] greater), and arteriolar hyalinosis index (0.03 [95% CI, 0.1 to 0.05] higher). sTNFR1 was associated with higher mesangial fractional volume (0.9% [95% CI, 0.5 to 1.3] greater) and GBM width (12.5 nm [95% CI, 4.5 to 20.5] thicker) and lower GBM surface density (0.003 μm2/μm3 [95% CI, 0.005 to 0.001] lesser). EGF and arginine-to-citrulline ratio correlated with severity of glomerular and tubulointerstitial features. Baseline sTNFR1, uromodulin, and EGF concentrations were associated with 5-year glomerular and tubulointerstitial feature progression.

Copyright © American Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved.

Source: Limonte, C., Prince, D., Hoofnagle, A. N., et al. (2023). Associations of Biomarkers of Tubular Injury and Inflammation with Biopsy Features in Type 1 Diabetes. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2024; 19(1): 44-55, January 2024. Published: January, 2024. DOI: 10.2215/CJN.0000000000000333.

[Posted 18/Jan/2024]

AUDIENCE: Endocrinology, Ophthalmology

KEY FINDINGS: Teprotumumab significantly improved proptosis vs placebo in longstanding/low inflammation TED, demonstrating efficacy regardless of disease duration/activity. The safety profile was comparable to that previously reported.

BACKGROUND: Early inflammatory thyroid eye disease (TED) can lead to symptomatic chronic disease, including disabling proptosis. Teprotumumab, an insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) inhibitor, previously demonstrated efficacy in acute, high-inflammation TED trials. Objective of the study was to present data from the first placebo-controlled trial with teprotumumab in chronic/low disease activity TED.

DETAILS: This randomized double-masked, placebo-controlled trial, conducted at 11 US centers, enrolled adult participants with TED duration of 2 to 10 years, Clinical Activity Score (CAS) <= 1 or no additional inflammation or progression in proptosis/diplopia for >=1 year, proptosis >=3 mm from before TED and/or from normal, euthyroid/mildly hypo/hyperthyroid, no prior teprotumumab, and no steroids within 3 weeks of baseline. Patients received (2:1) intravenous teprotumumab or placebo once every 3 weeks (total 8 infusions). The primary endpoint was proptosis (mm) improvement at Week 24. Adverse events (AEs) were assessed. A total of 62 (42 teprotumumab and 20 placebo) patients were randomized. At Week 24, least squares mean (SE) proptosis improvement was greater with teprotumumab (-2.41 [0.228]) than with placebo (-0.92 [0.323]), difference -1.48 (95% CI -2.28, -0.69; P = .0004). Proportions of patients with AEs were similar between groups. Hyperglycemia was reported in 6 (15%) vs 2 (10%) and hearing impairment in 9 (22%) vs 2 (10%) with teprotumumab and placebo, respectively. AEs led to discontinuation in 1 teprotumumab (left ear conductive hearing loss with congenital anomaly) and 1 placebo patient (infusion-related). There were no deaths.

Copyright © The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved.

Source: Douglas, R. S., Couch, S., Wester, S. T., et al. (2024). Efficacy and Safety of Teprotumumab in Patients With Thyroid Eye Disease of Long Duration and Low Disease Activity. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2024; 109(1): 25-35. Published: January, 2024. DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgad637.