Diagnostic values of serum levels of stromal interaction molecule 1 and retinol binding protein 4 in patients with hypertensive nephropathy

Objective To explore the serum expressions of stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) in patients with hypertensive nephropathy (HN) and examine their diagnostic values.(375.53±71.41)μmol/Lvs(342.80±59.75)μmol/L、(352.68±65.24)μmol/L.

Methods From March 2020 to March 2021, 88 hospitalized HN patients were selected as HN group while another 88 patients with simple hypertension as hypertensive group. Also 88 healthy people dring the same period were chosen as healthy group. Serum levels of STIM1 and RBP4 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Pearson’s method was utilized for examining the correlation between serum levels of STIM1 and RBP4, blood pressure and renal function parameters. Logistic regression analysis was employed for analyzing the influencing factors of HN. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was plotted for determining the diagnostic value of serum levels of STIM1 and RBP4 in HN.

Results Urea nitrogen(8.26±3.37)mmol/L vs（5.46±2.31）mmol/L、(5.63±2.54)mmol/L, uric acid(375.53±71.41)μmol/L vs(342.80±59.75)μmol/L、(352.68±65.24)μmol/L, serum creatinine(105.34±34.19)μmol/L vs(68.31±20.19)μmol/L、(71.63±22.55)μmol/L and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were obviously higher in HN group than those in healthy and hypertensive groups (P<0.05). The serum levels of STIM1(30.61±6.25)μg/L、(36.63±8.27)μg/L、(48.10±11.06)μg/L and RBP4(42.26±5.23)ng/mL、(51.98±8.70)ng/mL、(66.61±13.79)ng/mLspiked successively in healthy, hypertensive and HN groups (P<0.05). Serum levels of STIM1 and RBP4 were correlated positively in HN group. Serum levels of STIM1 and RBP4 were correlated positively with urea nitrogen, uric acid and serum creatinine and negatively with eGFR in HN group (P<0.05). Logistic multivariate regression analysis indicated that elevated levels of STIM1, RBP4, serum creatinine and eGFR were independent risk factors for HN in hypertensive patients (P<0.05). In hypertensive patients, area under the curve (AUC) of serum STIM1/RBP4 for diagnosing HN was 0.798 and 0.744. And AUC of a combined diagnosis of HN was 0.852 with a sensitivity of 75.29% and a specificity of 88.21%. The values were better than those for serum STIM1/RBP4 for a separate diagnosis (Z combined vs STIM1=2.219, Z combined vsRBP4=3.385, P<0.05).

Conclusion Serum levels of STIM1 and RBP4 are up-regulated in HN patients and a combination of STIM1 and RBP4 has some diagnostic value for HN.