Time to Change Our Viewpoints to Assess Renal Risks in Patients with Solitary Kidneys beyond Traditional Approaches?

Abstract

Solitary functioning kidney (SFK) can be defined as the absence or hypofunction of a kidney due to acquired or congenital reasons. A congenital solitary functioning kidney (cSFK) is more common than is an acquired one (aSFK) and is characterized by the anatomical absence (agenesis) or hypofunction (hypoplasia; hypodysplasia) of one kidney from birth. Among the acquired causes, the most important is nephrectomy (Nx) (due to the donor, trauma or mass resection). Patients with SFK are at risk for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the long term. This risk potential is also significantly affected by hypertension. The relationship between hypertension and subclinical chronic inflammation is a connection that has not yet been fully clarified pathogenetically, but there are many studies highlighting this association. In recent years, studies examining different fibrosis and inflammation biomarkers in terms of the evaluation and prediction of renal risks have become increasingly popular in the literature. Oxidative stress is known to play an important role in homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction and has been associated with hypertension. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and urinary/serum fibrosis and inflammatory markers in patients with SFK. We prospectively investigated the relationship between ABPM results and soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), procollagen type III N-terminal peptide (PIIINP), homocysteine and other variables in 85 patients with SFK and compared them between cSFK and aSFK groups. In the etiology of SFK, a congenital or acquired origin may differ in terms of the significance of biomarkers. In particular, the serum homocysteine level may be associated with different clinical outcomes in patients with cSFK and aSFK.