MO390: Prognosis of Kidney Damage Associated With Tobacco Consumption in Former Smokers

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Tobacco is a risk factor for some cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as for the development of some tumours. Furthermore, new research has shown evidence of the risk that smokers have of developing kidney disease [1]. On the other hand, biomarkers used in the clinical setting, such as plasma creatinine, are not useful to detect that injury. Considering this problem, the need to use biomarkers that provide a faster, more reliable and efficient diagnosis is clear. It is the case of biomarkers of subclinical kidney damage [2, 3]. In fact, studies from our laboratory have shown that smoking patients suffer subclinical kidney damage evidenced by the excretion of these novel urinary biomarkers [4]. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognosis of kidney damage associated with tobacco in former smokers using these biomarkers. That is, to study the role that smoking cessation plays in the evolution of kidney injury. METHOD A clinical study was designed where three groups of patients, without previous kidney damage and risk factors for kidney disease, were included: i) non-smokers (control group), ii) smokers and iii) former smokers (according to the World Health Organization, a person who has not used tobacco in the last 6–12 months). They were recruited from a Salamanca Health Centre (Spain). Urine samples were collected and the biomarkers of subclinical kidney damage N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), kidney injure molecule 1 (KIM-1) and total proteins, were quantified by ELISA and colorimetric techniques. The data obtained were analysed with the statistical software SPSS®. RESULTS The results showed a higher excretion of NAG, NGAL, KIM-1 and total proteins in smokers with respect to non-smoker ones. Rather, this excretion was significantly lower in the groups of former smokers and non-smokers. CONCLUSION Our research suggests that subclinical kidney damage associated with tobacco consumption would improve its prognosis when patients quit smoking, being able to recover kidney function to similar levels to non-smokers. This finding supports that smoking cessation carries an important benefit for the health of smoking patients.