Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet activation in patients with chronic kidney disease: the chronic renal impairment in Birmingham (CRIB) study.

Background: Studies in the general population suggest that low-grade inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet activation are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events.

Methods: Markers of inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and platelet activation were measured in 334 patients with chronic kidney disease (serum creatinine >1.47 mg/dL [>130 micromol/L] at screening) and compared with 2 age- and sex-matched control groups, 1 comprising 92 patients with coronary artery disease and the other comprising 96 apparently healthy individuals with no history of cardiovascular or kidney disease.