Insulin Resistance in Chronic Uremia

Insulin resistance often characterizes chronic uremia, and is associated with enhanced morbidity and mortality, because it may contribute to protein-energy wasting (in turn, an independent predictor of reduced survival), atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular death. Causes of insulin resistance in chronic uremia are complex and multifactorial. Obesity is emerging as an independent risk factor for chronic kidney disease, and an expected rise in number of obese uremic patients because of the ongoing worldwide obesity epidemic is likely to increase the prevalence of insulin resistance in chronic uremia in the near future. Similar to the general population, reported associations between obesity and insulin resistance in chronic uremia support a role of adipose tissue and altered adipokine profiles in insulin resistance in obese chronic kidney disease patients. Hormonal imbalances, chronic acidosis, and systemic inflammation and oxidative stress are uremia-associated relevant causes of insulin resistance in nonobese individuals. A further understanding of the causes of insulin resistance in chronic uremia represents a potential important tool in the design of more effective therapeutic strategies to reduce uremia-associated morbidity and mortality.