Objective
To investigate association of preoperative C‐reactive protein (CRP) and non‐cancer mortality (NCM) in a cohort of patients undergoing surgery for localised renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Patients and Methods
Retrospective multicentre analysis of patients surgically treated for clinical Stage 1–2 RCC from 2006 to 2017, excluding all cases of cancer‐specific mortality. Descriptive analyses were obtained between the pre‐treatment normal‐CRP (≤5 mg/L) and elevated‐CRP (>5 mg/L) groups. The primary outcome was NCM. The secondary outcomes included progression to de novo chronic kidney disease Stages 3–4 (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of <60, <45, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2). Multivariable analyses (MVA) were performed to assess for risk factors associated with functional decline and NCM, and Kaplan–Meier analysis was used to obtain survival estimates for outcomes.
Results
A total of 1987 patients who underwent radical or partial nephrectomy were analysed (normal‐CRP group, n = 963; elevated‐CRP group, n = 1024). Groups were similar in age (59 vs 60 years, P = 0.079). An elevated CRP was more frequent in males (36.8% vs 27.8%, P < 0.001), African‐Americans (22.6% vs 2.9%, P < 0.001), and in those with a higher median body mass index (30 vs 25 kg/m2, P < 0.001) and larger median tumour size (4.5 vs 3.3 cm, P < 0.001). On MVA, an elevated CRP was independently associated with development of de novo eGFR of <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (hazard ratio [HR] 1.32, P = 0.015), <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR 1.41, P = 0.023) and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (odds ratio 2.23, P < 0.001). The MVA for factors associated with NCM demonstrated increasing age (HR 1.06, P < 0.001), preoperative elevated CRP (HR 2.18, P < 0.001) and an eGFR of <45 mL/min/1.73 m2 (HR 1.16; P = 0.021) as independent risk factors. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed significantly higher 5‐year NCM in the elevated‐CRP group vs the normal‐CRP group (98% vs 80%, P < 0.001).
Conclusions
Pre‐treatment elevated CRP was independently associated with both progressive renal functional decline and NCM in patients undergoing surgery for Stage 1–2 RCC. Patients with elevated CRP and Stage 1 and 2 RCC may be considered as having indication for nephron‐sparing strategies, which may be prioritised if oncologically appropriate.