Abstract
Objectives
Chronic kidney disease and atherosclerosis are considered to be inflammatory process in which T cells and cytokines participate. This study determines the effect of statin therapy as an anti-inflammatory agent on the level of CD4+CD28null T lymphocyte population, and subsequently on atherosclerosis in patients with chronic renal disease.
Methods
We recruited 90 chronic kidney disease patients. The patients were divided into three groups according to carotid intimal medial thickness (CIMT) as an indicator of atherosclerosis. Two groups (group A in whom CIMT above 0.95 mm and B in whom CIMT below 0.95 mm) were given statin (atorvastatin 20mg) while the third group (group C in whom CIMT below 0.95 mm) continue only on the conservative treatment for CKD patients. CD4+CD28null T cells was measured in the three groups at the beginning of the study and after 6 months of statin therapy.
Results
CD4+CD28null T cells was decreased in statin groups (group A and B) when compared to no-statin group (group C) at the end of the study. Multivariable regression analysis for the effect of statin therapy showed that statin can independently increase the percentage of decrease both CD4+CD28null cells at the end of our study (p-value <0.0001).
Conclusion
Our study demonstrates that statins reduce CD4+CD28null T cells in CKD patients especially with atherosclerosis suggesting that statins may help in altering the inflammatory process that lead to atherosclerosis.
Carotid Intimal Medial Thickness (CIMT) in Patients of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and its Association with CKD Staging
