In hemodialysis patients, C-reactive protein (CRP), an acute-phase reactant, is a sensitive and independent marker of malnutrition, anemia, and amyloidosis. The aim of the present studies was to evaluate CRP and interleukin 6 levels in plasma samples from long-term hemodialysis patients on different extracorporeal modalities associated with or without backfiltration. Two hundred and forty-seven patients were recruited in eight hospital-based centers. All patients had been on their dialytic modality for at least 6 months. At enrollment, 46 hemodialysis patients out of 247 (18.6%) had clinical evidence of pathologies known to be associated with high CRP values. The 201 remaining patients were defined as clinically stable and were on conventional hemodialysis (34%), hemodiafiltration with infusion volumes <10 liters/session (10%), hemodiafiltration with infusion volumes <20 liters/session (32%), and double-chamber hemodiafiltration with infusion volumes <10 liters/session (22%). Analysis of CRP values in the clinically stable patients showed that an unexpectedly high proportion (47%) of the patients had CRP values higher than 5 mg/l (taken as the upper limit in normal human subjects). The values of CRP and interleukin 6 were significantly higher in hemodiafiltration with infusion volumes <10 liters/session than in hemodiafiltration with infusion volumes >20 liters/session, in hemodialysis and in double-chamber hemodiafiltration. The same pattern occurred after 6 months of follow-up in 171 out of 201 clinically stable patients. Hemodialytic conditions that expose to the risk of backfiltration such as low exchange volume hemodiafiltration may induce a chronic inflammatory state as reflected by increased plasma values of both CRP and interleukin 6, thus suggesting the need for hemodialytic strategies that reduce (hemodialysis with low-permeability membranes or hemodiafiltration with infusion volumes >20 liters) or eliminate (double-chamber hemodiafiltration) backfiltration of bacteria-derived contaminants.

Keywords:
Backfiltration, Biocompatibility, C-reactive protein, Hemodiafiltration
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel
2000
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.