Metabolic syndrome and chronic kidney disease.

Abstract

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide in both developing and developed countries. Experimental and clinical studies have revealed that MetS plays an important role in the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD), which leads to end-stage renal disease. Emerging evidence also suggests that CKD may actually cause MetS since the kidney is an important organ of glucose and lipid homeostasis. Although multiple mechanisms have been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of MetS, insulin resistance appears to be a central pathophysiological factor contributing to MetS. In this review we will discuss the association of MetS with insulin resistance and CKD, and the renal pathophysiological changes associated with MetS. © 2009 Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine and Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.