Admission plasma levels of fatty acids and kidney function in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND

Prior studies suggested a link between polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and the development of chronic kidney disease (glomerular filtration rate [GFR] < 60 ml/min/1.73 m²), but so far there are no studies on the association between PUFAs and kidney function in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). We aimed to investigate whether and how plasma fatty acids levels at admission were associated with kidney function in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

METHODS

This study was based on data from 717 patients with STEMI aged 29 to 98 years admitted to the University Hospital Augsburg between May 2009 and July 2013. In arterial blood samples taken from these patients immediately after admission a panel of plasma fatty acids was measured by a high-throughput nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy platform (Nightingale Health, Finland). To examine the association between the fatty acid groups (exposure) and kidney function (continuous eGFR; outcome), linear regression models were calculated. P values were FDR-adjusted.

RESULTS

In multivariable analyses the concentrations of total PUFAs, total omega-6 fatty acids, linoleic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were positively associated with serum eGFR values at admission. These findings were supported by a significantly positive association between these fatty acids in relation to total fatty acids (except for the ratio DHA/total fatty acids). While the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) was not associated with eGFR, a significantly inverse association was observed between the ratio MUFAs/total fatty acids and kidney function.

CONCLUSIONS

PUFAs, particularly omega-6 fatty acids, seem to be associated with kidney function in patients with AMI. Given the prognostic importance of renal function in coronary heart disease/AMI patients, further research on interventions to minimize worsening renal function and protect kidney function in this patient group is warranted.