CRP polymorphisms and chronic kidney disease in the third national health and nutrition examination survey

Background: CRP gene polymorphisms are associated with serum C-reactive protein concentrations and may play a role in chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. We recently reported an association between the gene variant rs2808630 and CKD progression in African Americans with hypertensive kidney disease. This association has not been studied in other ethnic groups. Methods: We used data from 5955 participants from Phase 2 of The Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1991-1994) to study the association between CRP polymorphisms and CKD prevalence in a population-based sample. The primary outcome was CKD defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min or the presence of albuminuria. Secondary outcomes were the presence of albuminuria (any degree) and continuous eGFR. Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the CRP gene, rs2808630, rs1205, rs3093066, rs1417938, rs3093058, and rs1800947, were evaluated. Results: CRP rs2808630 AG compared to the referent AA genotype was associated with CKD in non-Hispanic blacks (n = 1649, 293 of whom had CKD) with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 3.09 (95% CI 1.65-5.8; p = 0.001). For the secondary outcomes, rs2808630 AG compared to the referent AA genotype was associated with albuminuria with an adjusted OR of 3.07 (95% CI 1.59-5.94; p = 0.002), however not with eGFR. There was no association between the SNPs and CKD, albuminuria or eGFR in non-Hispanic whites or Mexicans Americans. Conclusions: In this cross-sectional study, the 3' flanking CRP gene variant rs2808630 was associated with CKD, mainly through its association with albuminuria in the non-Hispanic blacks. Despite not finding an association with eGFR, our results support our previous study demonstrating an association between CRP gene variant rs2808630 and CKD progression in a longitudinal cohort of African American with hypertensive kidney disease.