Abstract

Background: Uremic malnutrition, chronic inflammation, and cardiovascular disease are highly prevalent in chronic renal failure patients. Cardiovascular complications associated with atherosclerosis are the main causes of mortality and morbidity in renal failure patients. Inflammation is also thought to play a role in atherosclerosis. Elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP), which indicates inflammatory responses, is known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. If malnutrition and inflamation may be prevented, CRP levels can be lowered. The purpose of this study was to identify relationship between Kt/V, serum albumin (SA) and CRP.

Method: The study included 75 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. In these patients, atherosclerotic vascular disease was studied. In all patients, CRP, SA and Kt/V value were reached. The relationship was examined between SA levels, Kt/V values and CRP levels. On the other hand, CRP levels of atherosclerotic patients were compared with non-atherosclerotic patients.

Result: Significant inverse correlation was found between mean SA levels 3.8±0.47 g/dl and mean CRP levels 1.1±1.3 (r=-0.780, p<0.0001). A negative correlation between CRP and Kt/V was also found (r=–0.704, p<0.0001). Kt/V values and SA levels were found as the factors having the predictive factors on CRP (p=0.03, p<0.0001, respectively). CRP mean values resulted 1.8±1.8 mg/dl in atherosclerotic patients and 0.8±1.0 mg/dl in non-atherosclerotic patients (p=0.014).

Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that CRP mean values is higher in atherosclerotic patients than in non-atherosclerotic patients. At the same time, it was found that there was a negative and meaningful relation between Kt/V values, SA levels and CRP concentrations. In addition, dialysis adequate and SA levels were found as the predictive factors for CRP.