Human Epididymis Protein 4 as an Indicator of Acute Heart Failure in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). OBJECTIVE: To assess whether human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) can be useful in diagnosing acute heart failure (AHF) in patients with CKD. METHODS: A cohort of 139 Han nationality female patients with CKD who were hospitalized at Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China from January 2015 through November 2017 were included. RESULTS: Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that HE4 levels were significantly associated with N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) after adjustment of kidney function and other confounding factors. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, HE4 was independently associated with AHF in patients with CKD (odds ratio, 2.120; 95% con fi dence interval, 1.034-4.344; P = .04). Moreover, according to the optimal cutoff value of 639.6 pmol per L, the area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity of HE4 were 0.729, 74.2%, and 76.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: During hospitalization, HE4 maybe an useful indicator for diagnosing AHF in patients with CKD.