Ml) and Fibroblast Title Loaded From File growth factor 23 (FGF23 – ELISA Kainos Title Loaded From File Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was determined by immunochemiluminescence (CRP Immunolite; Immunometric Assay, CA, USA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BD Biosciences Pharmingen, CA, USA). Proteinuria was measured by obtaining 24-hour urine samples and abnormal proteinuria was defined as urinary protein excretion .150 mg/24 h. The glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated by the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) equation [11]. The diagnosis and classification of CKD were established as described elsewhere [12].Statistical AnalysisData were reported as mean and standard deviation (SD), median and interquartile range, or frequencies (proportions). Comparisons among continuous variables were done by Student’s t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test for normally distributed data and skewed data, respectively. The study population was further divided considering the presence of arrhythmia. Comparisons of proportions were done by chi-square analysis or by the Fisher exact test, when appropriate. The stepwise logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the factors associated with the presence of ventricular arrhythmia. All the variables 16985061 with significance at p,0.05 level in the univariate analysis were considered in the multiple regression analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows (version 19; SPSS, Chicago, IL).24-hour electrocardiogramVentricular arrhythmia and supraventricular arrhythmia were evaluated by a 3-channel 24-hour electrocardiogram monitoringVentricular Arrhythmia in CKD PatientsResultsThis study included 111 nondialyzed CKD patients, whose majority was middle-aged men. Demographic, laboratorial and cardiovascular data of the total population are summarized in Table 1. Patients had been on treatment for a median time of 2 years. Most of them were in stage IIIa (15 ), stage IIIb (30 ) or stage IV (41 ) of CKD. The main CKD causes were hypertension and diabetes. Overweight and obesity were found in 32 and 27 of the patients, respectively. Malnutrition was observed in only 4 of the patients according to the subjective global assessment. Twenty-four percent of the patients had diabetes. Non controlled hypertension was observed in 21 of the patients, while absence of systolic decency in 29 . Left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 27 of the patients and systolic dysfunction in 10 . Coronary artery calcification was observed in 49 , from which 46 had severe calcification.Table 1. General characteristics of the study population.Ventricular arrhythmia was found in 39 patients (35 ), from which 19 had also supraventricular arrhythmia. The median number of extra systoles in the population with ventricular arrhythmia was 51 (6?39) events/24 h. Table 2 depicts the comparison between patients with and without ventricular arrhythmia. Patients with ventricular arrhythmia were older, predominantly men, had higher eGFR and hemoglobin, and lower iPTH and triglycerides when compared to the patients without ventricular arrhythmia. Of note, eGFR correlated with hemoglobin (r = 0.422; p,0.01), iPTH (r = 20.51, p,0.01) but not with triglycerides (r = 0.16; p = 0.10). In addition, ventricular arrhythmia group had higher left ventricular mass index and coronary calcium score and lower ejection fraction (Figure 1). When compared.Ml) and Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23 – ELISA Kainos Laboratories, Tokyo, Japan). High-sensitivity C-reactive protein was determined by immunochemiluminescence (CRP Immunolite; Immunometric Assay, CA, USA) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured using a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (BD Biosciences Pharmingen, CA, USA). Proteinuria was measured by obtaining 24-hour urine samples and abnormal proteinuria was defined as urinary protein excretion .150 mg/24 h. The glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated by the CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) equation [11]. The diagnosis and classification of CKD were established as described elsewhere [12].Statistical AnalysisData were reported as mean and standard deviation (SD), median and interquartile range, or frequencies (proportions). Comparisons among continuous variables were done by Student’s t-test and the Mann-Whitney U-test for normally distributed data and skewed data, respectively. The study population was further divided considering the presence of arrhythmia. Comparisons of proportions were done by chi-square analysis or by the Fisher exact test, when appropriate. The stepwise logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the factors associated with the presence of ventricular arrhythmia. All the variables 16985061 with significance at p,0.05 level in the univariate analysis were considered in the multiple regression analysis. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows (version 19; SPSS, Chicago, IL).24-hour electrocardiogramVentricular arrhythmia and supraventricular arrhythmia were evaluated by a 3-channel 24-hour electrocardiogram monitoringVentricular Arrhythmia in CKD PatientsResultsThis study included 111 nondialyzed CKD patients, whose majority was middle-aged men. Demographic, laboratorial and cardiovascular data of the total population are summarized in Table 1. Patients had been on treatment for a median time of 2 years. Most of them were in stage IIIa (15 ), stage IIIb (30 ) or stage IV (41 ) of CKD. The main CKD causes were hypertension and diabetes. Overweight and obesity were found in 32 and 27 of the patients, respectively. Malnutrition was observed in only 4 of the patients according to the subjective global assessment. Twenty-four percent of the patients had diabetes. Non controlled hypertension was observed in 21 of the patients, while absence of systolic decency in 29 . Left ventricular hypertrophy was found in 27 of the patients and systolic dysfunction in 10 . Coronary artery calcification was observed in 49 , from which 46 had severe calcification.Table 1. General characteristics of the study population.Ventricular arrhythmia was found in 39 patients (35 ), from which 19 had also supraventricular arrhythmia. The median number of extra systoles in the population with ventricular arrhythmia was 51 (6?39) events/24 h. Table 2 depicts the comparison between patients with and without ventricular arrhythmia. Patients with ventricular arrhythmia were older, predominantly men, had higher eGFR and hemoglobin, and lower iPTH and triglycerides when compared to the patients without ventricular arrhythmia. Of note, eGFR correlated with hemoglobin (r = 0.422; p,0.01), iPTH (r = 20.51, p,0.01) but not with triglycerides (r = 0.16; p = 0.10). In addition, ventricular arrhythmia group had higher left ventricular mass index and coronary calcium score and lower ejection fraction (Figure 1). When compared.