Role of Visfatin in Chronic Kidney Disease: Diagnostic Potential and Association with Hemodialysis

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, often progressing silently until advanced stages. This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic potential of serum visfatin levels and Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyl transferase (NAMPT) gene expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) among CKD patients, along with their correlation with disease severity and lipid profile. Methods A case-control study included 30 CKD patients, divided into two subgroups: 15 end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and 15 non-dialysis patients. These patients were matched by age and body mass index (BMI) with 30 healthy subjects (HS). Serum visfatin, lipid profile, electrolytes, NAMPT gene expression, and other biochemical markers were measured. Results This study showed significantly higher visfatin levels in CKD patients compared to HS, with the highest levels observed in the ESRD group undergoing HD (5.6±1.63 ng/mL compared with 3.5±1.4 ng/mL in CKD without HD, and 2.7±1.1 ng/mL in HS; p≤0.001). Similarly, NAMPT gene expression was significantly upregulated in CKD patients, with the highest expression in the HD group, correlating strongly with serum visfatin levels (r = 0.76, p≤0.001) and lipid profile markers, including triglycerides (r = 0.67, p=0.002) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL; r = 0.61, p=0.004). In CKD patients undergoing HD, visfatin levels showed a positive correlation with triglycerides and LDL levels, suggesting a link with dyslipidemia. No significant correlation was found between visfatin and highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), urea, creatinine, or very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). Conclusions These findings indicate that serum visfatin and NAMPT gene expression could serve as novel biomarkers for assessing CKD severity, particularly in patients undergoing hemodialysis, with potential implications for managing inflammation and cardiovascular risk in CKD.