Hypertriglyceridemia accompanied by increased serum complement component 3 and proteinuria in non-nephrotic chronic kidney disease

Background Hypertriglyceridemia (hTG) is a risk factor for progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, it remains unknown whether the adipocytokine complement component 3 (C3) is involved in the association between hTG and CKD. Methods The study included 138 patients (54 % male) with non-nephrotic (serum albumin ≥3 g/dl) CKD who had undergone a renal biopsy and did not have hypocomplementemic disease. Renal arteriolopathy was assessed semi-quantitatively. We examined the cross-sectional associations between proteinuria and hTG with or without a higher serum C3 level (hC3), defined as equal or above the median value. Results The mean (SD) age of the patients was 42 (±17) years and urine protein was 1.2 (±1.2) g/gCr. Patients with hTG had a significantly higher urine protein than those without hTG. Subgroup analysis showed that the hTG+/hC3+ group had higher grade arteriolopathy and urine protein levels. Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes mellitus showed that hC3+ alone was associated significantly with higher levels of urine protein [odds ratio (OR), 2.98; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.19–7.46, p = 0.02]; however, hTG alone showed no such association. hTG+/hC3+ was a significant factor when hTG−/hC3− was used as the reference (adjusted OR 5.32; 95 % CI 1.40–20.17, p = 0.01), with this OR being decreased by adjustment for arteriolopathy. Conclusions hTG accompanied by hC3 was associated with proteinuria in non-nephrotic CKD. Arteriolopathy may influence this association. A prospective study is needed to determine the predictive value of this association in CKD progression.