Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

Abstract Sarcopenia is common in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to poor outcomes. Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) may worsen muscle function through metabolic and inflammatory pathways. We conducted a cross‐sectional study comparing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients an...

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Main Authors: R. Gulsah Dilaver, Mert Demirci, Rachelle Crescenzi, Michael Pridmore, Lale A. Ertuglu, Andrew Guide, Robert Greevy, Baback Roshanravan, T. Alp Ikizler, Jorge L. Gamboa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Physiological Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70363
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author R. Gulsah Dilaver
Mert Demirci
Rachelle Crescenzi
Michael Pridmore
Lale A. Ertuglu
Andrew Guide
Robert Greevy
Baback Roshanravan
T. Alp Ikizler
Jorge L. Gamboa
author_facet R. Gulsah Dilaver
Mert Demirci
Rachelle Crescenzi
Michael Pridmore
Lale A. Ertuglu
Andrew Guide
Robert Greevy
Baback Roshanravan
T. Alp Ikizler
Jorge L. Gamboa
author_sort R. Gulsah Dilaver
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sarcopenia is common in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to poor outcomes. Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) may worsen muscle function through metabolic and inflammatory pathways. We conducted a cross‐sectional study comparing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and controls to assess IMAT and its associations. IMAT was measured via calf muscle MRI, and body composition (BMI, fat mass index), metabolic markers (hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐6, insulin resistance), and circulating cell‐free mitochondrial DNA (ccf‐mtDNA) were assessed. Muscle function was evaluated with handgrip strength. IMAT differences between groups were tested using inverse propensity weighting. We analyzed 25 MHD patients and 23 controls. Median age was 53 years, BMI 30.4 kg/m2, 83% were male, and 56% were African American. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for race. MHD patients had higher IMAT (p < 0.01) and elevated TNF‐α, IL‐6, and hs‐CRP (p < 0.01). IMAT was positively correlated with IL‐6 in MHD patients and with TNF‐α in controls. Handgrip strength was inversely correlated with IMAT in the full cohort (p < 0.01). Our findings highlight the role of IMAT in inflammation and functional decline in CKD, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.
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spelling doaj-art-c48274ce912447b68e792ff5e950076a2025-08-20T03:50:49ZengWileyPhysiological Reports2051-817X2025-07-011313n/an/a10.14814/phy2.70363Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysisR. Gulsah Dilaver0Mert Demirci1Rachelle Crescenzi2Michael Pridmore3Lale A. Ertuglu4Andrew Guide5Robert Greevy6Baback Roshanravan7T. Alp Ikizler8Jorge L. Gamboa9Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USADepartment of Radiology Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USADepartment of Radiology Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USADepartment of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USADepartment of Medicine Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USADepartment of Biostatistics Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Nephrology University of California Davis, Sacramento California USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USADepartment of Medicine, Division of Clinical Pharmacology Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USAAbstract Sarcopenia is common in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), contributing to poor outcomes. Intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) may worsen muscle function through metabolic and inflammatory pathways. We conducted a cross‐sectional study comparing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and controls to assess IMAT and its associations. IMAT was measured via calf muscle MRI, and body composition (BMI, fat mass index), metabolic markers (hs‐CRP, TNF‐α, IL‐6, insulin resistance), and circulating cell‐free mitochondrial DNA (ccf‐mtDNA) were assessed. Muscle function was evaluated with handgrip strength. IMAT differences between groups were tested using inverse propensity weighting. We analyzed 25 MHD patients and 23 controls. Median age was 53 years, BMI 30.4 kg/m2, 83% were male, and 56% were African American. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups, except for race. MHD patients had higher IMAT (p < 0.01) and elevated TNF‐α, IL‐6, and hs‐CRP (p < 0.01). IMAT was positively correlated with IL‐6 in MHD patients and with TNF‐α in controls. Handgrip strength was inversely correlated with IMAT in the full cohort (p < 0.01). Our findings highlight the role of IMAT in inflammation and functional decline in CKD, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target.https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70363chronic kidney diseasehemodialysisinflammationintermuscular adipose tissuephysical performance
spellingShingle R. Gulsah Dilaver
Mert Demirci
Rachelle Crescenzi
Michael Pridmore
Lale A. Ertuglu
Andrew Guide
Robert Greevy
Baback Roshanravan
T. Alp Ikizler
Jorge L. Gamboa
Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
Physiological Reports
chronic kidney disease
hemodialysis
inflammation
intermuscular adipose tissue
physical performance
title Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
title_full Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
title_fullStr Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
title_full_unstemmed Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
title_short Intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
title_sort intermuscular adipose tissue and muscle function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
topic chronic kidney disease
hemodialysis
inflammation
intermuscular adipose tissue
physical performance
url https://doi.org/10.14814/phy2.70363
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