Photo Credit: Rasi Bhadramani

The following is a summary of “Renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine as markers for the development of hypertension in CKD patients,” published in the April 2025 issue of BMC Nephrology by Heryć et al. 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) causes irreversible kidney damage, with over 90% of patients developing arterial hypertension (HT). Renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine are believed to influence hypertension development and CKD progression. 

Researchers conducted a retrospective study to measure renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels in patients with CKD. 

They included 117 patients with CKD, divided into 4 groups: 32 patients with hemodialysis (before and after treatment), 31 patients with peritoneal dialysis, 24 kidney transplant recipients (pre- and post-transplant), and 30 conservatively treated patients (CKD stages 2–5). A control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers. Levels of renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine were measured using the ELISA method. 

The results showed that CKD significantly affected renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels (P = 0.046; P = 0.035; P = 0.023). The lowest renalase levels were in patients with ADPKD and HT, while the highest dopamine levels were in those with CKD due to glomerulonephritis. The lowest norepinephrine levels were in patients with HT and diabetes. 

Investigators found that levels of renalase, dopamine, and norepinephrine may indicate CKD progression, cardiovascular event risk, and patient prognosis. 

Source: bmcnephrol.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12882-025-04114-2