Plasma Calmodulin as a Biomarker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Calmodulin is a calcium-signaling protein implicated in cardiac remodeling and could be released extracellularly. It was previously identified as differentially expressed in hypertensive pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study assessed plasma calmodulin as a cardiovascular dis...

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Main Authors: Hsin-Jung Lee, Wei-Ting Liao, Chien-Ning Hsu, You-Lin Tain, Pei-Chen Lu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Children
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/599
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author Hsin-Jung Lee
Wei-Ting Liao
Chien-Ning Hsu
You-Lin Tain
Pei-Chen Lu
author_facet Hsin-Jung Lee
Wei-Ting Liao
Chien-Ning Hsu
You-Lin Tain
Pei-Chen Lu
author_sort Hsin-Jung Lee
collection DOAJ
description Background: Calmodulin is a calcium-signaling protein implicated in cardiac remodeling and could be released extracellularly. It was previously identified as differentially expressed in hypertensive pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study assessed plasma calmodulin as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarker in pediatric CKD and compared it with traditional risk markers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 81 children with CKD aged 3–18 years. All underwent clinical assessments and echocardiography; 44 had carotid ultrasound, and 38 completed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Results: Most participants had preserved renal function (median eGFR, 104.4 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>). Plasma calmodulin levels were significantly associated with early markers of CVD, including interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular mass, carotid intima–media thickness, and ABPM systolic measures (all r > 0.2; <i>p</i> < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, only calmodulin and office systolic blood pressure (BP) independently predicted abnormal BP profiles. Conclusions: Plasma calmodulin may serve as a sensitive, though non-specific, early CVD biomarker in pediatric CKD and could complement conventional screening tools.
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spelling doaj-art-ac277fb99be84486bef0be99be1ed8932025-08-20T03:47:48ZengMDPI AGChildren2227-90672025-05-0112559910.3390/children12050599Plasma Calmodulin as a Biomarker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Chronic Kidney DiseaseHsin-Jung Lee0Wei-Ting Liao1Chien-Ning Hsu2You-Lin Tain3Pei-Chen Lu4Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, TaiwanDivision of Pediatric Nephrology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, TaiwanDivision of Pediatric Nephrology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, TaiwanDivision of Pediatric Nephrology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, TaiwanBackground: Calmodulin is a calcium-signaling protein implicated in cardiac remodeling and could be released extracellularly. It was previously identified as differentially expressed in hypertensive pediatric chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study assessed plasma calmodulin as a cardiovascular disease (CVD) biomarker in pediatric CKD and compared it with traditional risk markers. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 81 children with CKD aged 3–18 years. All underwent clinical assessments and echocardiography; 44 had carotid ultrasound, and 38 completed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Results: Most participants had preserved renal function (median eGFR, 104.4 mL/min/1.73 m<sup>2</sup>). Plasma calmodulin levels were significantly associated with early markers of CVD, including interventricular septal thickness, left ventricular mass, carotid intima–media thickness, and ABPM systolic measures (all r > 0.2; <i>p</i> < 0.05). In multivariable analysis, only calmodulin and office systolic blood pressure (BP) independently predicted abnormal BP profiles. Conclusions: Plasma calmodulin may serve as a sensitive, though non-specific, early CVD biomarker in pediatric CKD and could complement conventional screening tools.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/599childrenchronic kidney diseasehypertensioncardiovascular diseasecalmodulinbiomarker
spellingShingle Hsin-Jung Lee
Wei-Ting Liao
Chien-Ning Hsu
You-Lin Tain
Pei-Chen Lu
Plasma Calmodulin as a Biomarker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease
Children
children
chronic kidney disease
hypertension
cardiovascular disease
calmodulin
biomarker
title Plasma Calmodulin as a Biomarker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease
title_full Plasma Calmodulin as a Biomarker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease
title_fullStr Plasma Calmodulin as a Biomarker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease
title_full_unstemmed Plasma Calmodulin as a Biomarker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease
title_short Plasma Calmodulin as a Biomarker of Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Pediatric Chronic Kidney Disease
title_sort plasma calmodulin as a biomarker of subclinical cardiovascular disease in pediatric chronic kidney disease
topic children
chronic kidney disease
hypertension
cardiovascular disease
calmodulin
biomarker
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/12/5/599
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