Purpose. To evaluate clinical and functional manifestations of chronic glomerulonephritis against the background of the development of hyperuricemia.
Material and Methods. 163 patients (102 men and 41 women) with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) at the pre-dialysis stage of the disease aged from 17 to 71 years were examined. The study inclusion criteria was an increase in the plasma uric acid (PUA) concentration >0.42 mmol/l for men, and >0.36 mmol/l for women. All patients examined were divided into two groups depending on gender: group 1-men (n=102); group 2-women (n=41). The groups were matched by age, duration of CGN, parameters of hemodynamics and lipid spectrum. In addition to the clinical and laboratory tests, all patients underwent echocardiographic evaluation of structural changes in the heart.
Results. Significant increases in the diameter of the ascending aorta (3.51±0.43 vs 3.14±0.25 cm, P<0.05), longitudinal size of the left atrium (3.57±0,47 vs. 3.36±0.39 cm, P<0.05), final systolic (3.40±0.56 vs. 3.14±0.35 cm, P<0.05) and diastolic dimensions of the left ventricle (LV) (5.25±0.51 vs. 4.93±0.41 cm, P<0.05), as well as an increase in the LV mass index were detected in patients of group 1 (men) as compared with group 2 (women). In the group 2, a significant decrease in the hemoglobin levels (114.9±22.3 vs. 140.2±24.5 g/l, P<0.05), the number of erythrocytes (3.99±0.52x1012/l versus 4.54±0.54x1012/l, P<0.05), platelets (230.6±28.4 109/l versus 246.1±28.3x109/l, P<0.05 ), and a decrease in GFR (43.9 [22.9–68.3] vs 62.4 [29.2–92.4] ml/min, P<0.05) were found. Men had a direct relationship between serum uric acid (SUA) level and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration (r=0.254; P=0.029) and inverse relationship with GFR (r=-0.264; P=0.029). In females, a positive relationship was observed between the SUA concentration and he diameter of the ascending aorta (r=0.493, P=0.012) and the value of LVMMI (r=0.327; P=0.046).
Conclusions. In chronic glomerulonephritis atthe pre-dialysis stage of the disease, an increase in the serum uric acid concentration in men is accompanied by the appearance of structural changes in the left ventricle, in women – by the development of anemia and inhibition of the glomerular filtration rate.

Keywords: chronic glomerulonephritis, renal dysfunction, uric acid, cardiovascular complications, left ventricle