Kidney function changes and their relation with the progression of cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive decline

• Published in: Journal of the neurological sciences 2020-02, Vol.409, p.116635-116635, Article 116635
• Main Authors: Jiménez-Balado, Joan, Riba-Llena, Iolanda, Pizarro, Jesús, Palasí, Antoni, Penalba, Anna, Ramírez, Clara, Maisterra, Olga, Espinel, Eugenia, Ramos, Natalia, Pujadas, Francesc, Serón, Daniel, Delgado, Pilar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Albuminuria - diagnostic imaging; Albuminuria - epidemiology; Albuminuria - physiopathology; Cerebral small vessel disease; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases - epidemiology; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases - physiopathology; Cognitive Dysfunction - diagnostic imaging; Cognitive Dysfunction - epidemiology; Cognitive Dysfunction - physiopathology; Disease Progression; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glomerular Filtration Rate - physiology; Humans; Hypertension; Kidney - diagnostic imaging; Kidney - physiology; Kidney function; Longitudinal Studies; Longitudinal study; Male; MCI (mild cognitive impairment); Middle Aged; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0022-510X; 1878-5883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2019.116635

We aimed to study whether worsening in markers of kidney function parallels the progression in cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) and cognitive decline. Data from the ISSYS (Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives Study), a longitudinal population-based study in hypertensives aged 50–70 and dementia and stroke-free at baseline. At both visits, patients underwent a brain MRI, a cognitive diagnosis (normal aging or mild cognitive impairment, [MCI]) and urine and blood sampling collection. We assessed the incidence of infarcts and cerebral microbleeds, and the progression of white matter hyperintensities at periventricular (PVH) and deep areas. We determined changes in albumin-creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). These changes were dichotomized into microalbuminuria at follow-up —either in subjects with or without baseline microalbuminuria— and significant decline in eGFR —lowest quintile of eGFR change (−10.57 mL/min/1.73m2)—. 360 patients were followed-up for 4 years. 80 (23%) patients presented microalbuminuria at follow-up and 68 (20.1%) experienced a significant eGFR decline. Considering cSVD change, we found a relationship between microalbuminuria at follow-up and progression in PVH (β = 0.31, P-value = .01). Regarding cognitive decline, presence of microalbuminuria at follow-up related to a steeper decrease in memory function (β = −0.36, P-value