Association of Serum Ig Free Light Chains with Mortality and ESRD among Patients with Nondialysis-Dependent CKD

High levels of serum polyclonal combined Ig free light chains are associated with inflammation and decreased excretory kidney function, and they are an independent risk factor for mortality. Whether combined Ig free light chain predicted mortality and progression to ESRD in a stages 3-5 CKD cohort was assessed. This was a prospective cohort study of 872 patients with stages 3-5 CKD (nondialysis) recruited into the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Standards Implementation Study. Patients were recruited to the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Standards Implementation Study in an unselected manner from secondary care nephrology clinics between 2004 and 2010. Combined Ig free light chain was measured at recruitment and analyzed by quartiles. The cohort was followed up for a median of 41.4 months (interquartile range =28.3-68.0 months). Cox regression analysis was undertaken to determine the variables associated with mortality and progression to ESRD. Combined Ig free light chain quartiles were 100.7 mg/L. An independent association with death and progression to ESRD was associated with the third and fourth combined Ig free light chain quartiles (quartile 3: death: hazard ratio, 1.49; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 2.18; P=0.04; ESRD: hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 2.97; P=0.05; quartile 4: death: hazard ratio, 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.34 to 2.93; P4.65 mg/dl for progression to ESRD. An elevated serum combined Ig free light chain level is an independent risk factor for mortality and progression to ESRD in patients with stages 3-5 CKD managed in secondary care.