Association between serum lactate dehydrogenase level and renal outcome in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease without diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Higher serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels are associated with poor prognosis including renal outcome, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with diabetic kidney disease. However, this association remains unclear in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) without diabetes mellitus (DM). METHODS: and hemoglobin <10 g/dL due to renal anemia without DM, we investigated the association between serum LDH levels and study outcomes. RESULTS: ) were divided into four quartiles according to serum LDH level: Q1, 78-169 U/L; Q2, 170-193 U/L; Q3, 194-224 U/L; Q4, 225-503 U/L. The median observation period for renal composite events and the composite of cardiovascular events or death were 562 and 637 days, respectively. In total, 206 (46%) patients experienced renal composite outcomes, and 45 (10%) patients experienced a composite of cardiovascular events or death. The multivariable analysis showed that the Q4 group had a higher risk of renal composite outcomes (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 2.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39-3.08) and the composite of cardiovascular events or death (aHR, 2.77; 95%CI, 1.21-6.32) compared with the Q1 group. CONCLUSIONS: Higher LDH levels are associated with higher risk of renal complications and composite of cardiovascular events or death in patients with advanced CKD without DM.