Triiodothyronine and Protein Malnutrition Could Influence Pulse Wave Velocity in Pre-Dialysis Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the first cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) mortality. For personalized improved medicine, detecting correctable markers of CVD can be considered a priority. The aim of this study was the evaluation of the impact of nutritional, hormonal and inflammatory markers on brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) in pre-dialysis CKD patients. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 68 pre-dialysis CKD patients (median age of 69 years, 41.2% with diabetes mellitus, 52.9% male). Laboratory data were collected, including levels of prolactin, triiodothyronine, TGF α, IL-6, and IL-1β. The high values of brachial-ankle PWV were associated with reduced muscle mass ( p = 0.001, r = -0.44), low levels of total cholesterol ( p = 0.04, r = -0.26), triglycerides ( p = 0.03, r = -0.31), triiodothyronine ( p = 0.04, r = -0.24), and prolactin ( p = 0.02, r = -0.27). High PWV was associated with advanced age ( p < 0.001, r = 0.19). In the multivariate analysis, reduced muscle mass ( p = 0.018), low levels of triiodothyronine ( p = 0.002), and triglycerides ( p = 0.049) were significant predictors of PWV, but age ( p < 0.001) remained an important factor. In conclusion, reduced triiodothyronine together with markers of malnutrition and age were associated with PWV in pre-dialysis CKD patients.