Characteristics and predictors of low-grade renal artery stenosis in female patients with CKD

Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is an important cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The main purpose of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics and predictors of low-grade RAS in female patients with CKD. One hundred and five female CKD patients from Huadong Hospital affiliated with Fudan University who underwent 3 T non-contrast renal artery magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were analyzed. Basic statistics methods were used in the study, such as independent-sample t test,non-parametric test, binary logistic regression analysis and ROC analysis. In this cross-sectional study, there were 50 patients with RAS and 55 without RAS (47.6% versus 52.4%). Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that low-level ALB and lymphocyte count, high-level SP, BUN and NLR were independent risk factors for low-grade RAS in female patients with CKD. ROC analysis indicated that eGFR, FeNa and UBCR, ALB, lymphocyte count and NLR had the best predictive value for low-grade RAS, especially eGFR with a sensitivity of 65.50% and specificity of 72.00% and FeNa with a sensitivity of 71.10% and specificity of 72.20% and BUCR with a sensitivity of 71.10% and specificity of 68.10%. In female patients with CKD, FeNa, eGFR, ALB, UBCR, lymphocyte count and NLR may be good predictors of low-grade RAS, especially eGFR, FeNa and BUCR.