ASSOCIATION OF NEPHRIN LEVELS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a progressive condition often triggered by poorly managed hypertension, can lead to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) if not identified and treated early. This study aims to explore the role of nephrin as a parameter for detecting and predicting the development of CKD in hypertensive people. The cross-sectional study evaluated nephrin levels in hypertensive adults across different stages of CKD. A minimum of 100 participants were included. The demographic analysis showed a higher percentage of males (67%) in comparison to females. Among males, the majority (37.31%) were in the 36-45 age group. In terms of BMI, 42% of patients were classified as normal weight, 30% as overweight, 20% as obese, and 8% as underweight. Half of the patients had hypertension, 20% had diabetes, 15% had cardiovascular disease, and 15% had no significant medical history. Nephrin levels were elevated with CKD progression, increasing from 15.2 ng/mL in patients with eGFR > 90 mL/min/1.73 m² to 80.1 ng/mL in those with eGFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m² (p≤0.05). A strong positive correlation was observed between nephrin and ACR (R² = 0.99), serum creatinine (R² = 0.95), and BUN (R² = 0.96). It is concluded that Nephrin emerges as a promising early biomarker for identifying and predicting CKD progression in hypertensive individuals, showing a significant correlation with declining kidney function markers such as ACR, serum creatinine, and BUN. Monitoring nephrin levels may enhance early detection and timely intervention, potentially slowing CKD progression and decreasing the risk of ESRD.