Metabolic Syndrome and Renal Disease

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors including insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension which are also relevant for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It has proven difficult to elucidate whether the renal dysfunction in MetS is due to the MetS itself or the individual risk factors. For example, obesity - which is also part of the MetS - may enhance the risk of renal dysfunction development probably through mechanisms associated with renal hyperfiltration, hyperperfusion and focal glomerulosclerosis. Insulin resistance also promotes kidney disease by worsening renal hemodynamics. In patients with MetS, tubular atrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and arteriolar sclerosis indicating the presence of vascular damage, have also been described. As yet, there has been little evidence that preventing or treating symptoms of the MetS protects patients from renal impairment.