Procalcitonin for accurate detection of infection in haemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Infection results in considerable morbidity and mortality in haemodialysis patients. Diagnosis of infection can be difficult because currently applied laboratory parameters may be non-specifically altered due to uraemia or haemodialysis (HD). This study investigated the diagnostic value and kinetics of serum procalcitonin (PCT), a low-molecular-weight protein, in patients receiving intermittent HD. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients receiving intermittent HD for end-stage renal disease (n=48) or acute renal failure (n=20) were prospectively studied, 47 treated with high-flux and 21 with low-flux membranes. Of 36 patients with severe infections or sepsis, 27 were treated with high-flux and nine with low-flux membranes. WBC, serum PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured immediately before HD, and PCT repeatedly during the following 48 h. RESULTS: When determined immediately before HD, PCT demonstrated a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 81%, and positive and negative predictive values of 84 and 87%, indicating severe infection or sepsis. These levels were higher than the respective values for CRP (89, 48, 68 and 78%) and WBC (58, 75, 71 and 59%). After 4 h of HD with high-flux membranes, PCT decreased significantly to 83+/-25% and did not return to predialysis concentrations before 48 h. This decrease in serum PCT resulted in markedly reduced sensitivity (65%) and negative predictive value (54%). In contrast, no marked change in PCT concentration occurred during or after HD with low-flux membranes. CONCLUSION: Serum PCT is an accurate indicator of severe infection and sepsis in patients receiving intermittent HD. High-flux membranes substantially decrease PCT. When utilizing high flux membranes, serum PCT concentrations should be determined prior to the start of HD.     

Differential diagnosis of bacterial infection and inflammatory response in kidney diseases using procalcitonin

BACKGROUND: Early diagnosis of bacterial infection in renal patients remains difficult. Common laboratory parameters, such as white blood cell (WBC) count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and C-reactive protein (CRP) may be affected by the underlying disease, uremia or its extracorporeal treatment, or by immunosuppressive drugs. Procalcitonin (PCT) may be useful for the detection of systemic bacterial infections in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing renal replacement therapy, but elevated PCT concentrations have also been found in a significant number of uremic patients without signs of infection. METHODS: We tested whether measurements of PCT levels help distinguish the chronic inflammation in renal diseases from invasive bacterial infections. Serum levels of PCT were compared with the corresponding serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and WBC counts in 197 patients with different stages of renal disease: Group I) 32 patients with chronic renal failure (serum creatinine 2-6 mg/dL); group II) 31 patients with a functioning renal transplant receiving standard immunosuppressive regimens; group III) 76 clinically stable patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis (HD); group IV) 23 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) due to systemic autoimmune disease; group V) 35 patients with proven systemic bacterial infection and CRF. RESULTS: PCT levels were within the normal range (< 0.5 ng/mL) in patients with CRF and renal transplant patients without any clinical evidence of bacterial infection, regardless of the degree of renal failure and the underlying disorders. In 22 out of 76 stable HD patients, PCT levels were above the upper limit of normal, but 97% of these values were below the proposed cut-off for chronic HD patients of < 1.5 ng/mL. CRP levels were elevated in 17 of 32 patients with CRF (mean +/- SD: 0.57 +/- 0.49 mg/dL), in 10 of 31 renal transplant patients (0.41 +/- 0.55 mg/dL), in 16 of 23 patients with autoimmune disorders (2.78 +/- 3.21 mg/dL) and in 42 of 76 patients treated by HD (0.64 +/- 0.58 mg/dL). In patients with CRF and systemic bacterial infections, both PCT and CRP were markedly elevated (PCT 61.50 +/- 115.4 ng/mL, CRP 14.50 +/- 10.36 mg/dL), but in contrast to PCT, CRP values overlapped in infected and non-infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that PCT levels are not significantly affected by loss of renal function, immunosuppressive agents or autoimmune disorders. Thus, significantly elevated PCT concentrations offer good sensitivity and specificity for the early diagnosis of systemic bacterial infection in patients with CRF or patients with ESRD treated by HD. CRP concentrations may be useful indicators for inflammation in patients with renal diseases, but have low specificity for the diagnosis of bacterial infection.     

Comparison of the effects of three haemodialysis membranes on vancomycin disposition

Polysulfone (PSF) and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were recently introduced haemodialysis (HD) membranes. The effect of each on vancomycin disposition was compared with cuprophan (SCE) in 12 chronic HD patients who received 14 infusions. Vancomycin (1 g) was infused over 1 hour, followed by three 4-hour HD sessions over 5 days, beginning 1 hour after the end of infusion. The intradialytic clearances of vancomycin were 73, 54 and 15 ml/min for PSF, PAN and SCE, respectively. At the end of the third HD session, vancomycin concentration dropped to subtherapeutic level (<7.5 μg/ml) only in patients dialysed with PSF and PAN. The corresponding elimination half-lives (t_1/2β) were 61, 60 and 86 hours for the three membranes, respectively. According to these findings, vancomycin should be given every three HD sessions for PSF and PAN. The dosage interval should be extended up to every 5 HD sessions for patients on SCE. The peak (mean±S.D.) obtained one hour after the end of infusion was 34.2±11.4 μg/ml, which is within the therapeutic range.     

血清降钙素原水平鉴别血液透析炎症发热初探

目的探讨血清降钙素原（PCT）水平在尿毒症患者血液透析（HD）炎症性发热时的变化及临床意义。方法在106例有发热表现的尿毒症HD患者中，根据有关临床表现和实验室检查，分为细菌感染组和其它致热源感染组，分别检测血清PCT水平和C反应蛋白（CRP）水平，并与尿毒症HD稳定无发热组进行比较分析。结果慢性肾功能衰竭（CRF）患者血清PCT水平不受原发病，肾功能衰竭程度和HD治疗的影响。细菌感染组与其它致热源发热组相比，前者血清PCT水平升高显著，差异有显著性（P〈0．01），CRP在两组患者血清中都升高，无显著差异性（P〉0．05）。细菌感染组患者血清PCT水平检测的敏感性和特异性高于CRP的检测。结论血清PCT水平的检测为合并细菌感染的HD治疗的CRF患者提供了一个较好的敏感性和特异性早期诊断指标，其检测细菌感染的特异性和敏感性高于CRP。     

Procalcitonin as a marker of micro-inflammation in hemodialysis

In searching for a rapid and sensitive test to detect micro-inflammation in patients on hemodialysis (HD), we measured serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels and made a comparison with other traditional markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid (SAA) and homocysteine, considered related to vascular damage. We investigated 51 HD patients, without signs of infection, in basal conditions (during standard bicarbonate dialysis and unselected filters: X) and after 4 months of possibly more biocompatible treatments (on-line hemofiltration (HF) or HD with ultra-pure dialysate and biocompatible membranes: Y). Serum PCT (measured by immunoluminometric assay), CRP and SAA (nephelometric assay) and plasma homocysteine (measured by high performance liquid chromatography) concentrations were assessed at the beginning of dialysis (T0) and after 4 hr (T4). Patients on unselected dialysis displayed mean PCT values significantly increased after 4 hr of dialysis in comparison to those at the start of the sessions (XT4 1.56 +/- 3.93 vs. XT0 0.4 +/- 0.34 ng/mL; p < 0.05). The PCT levels detected after 4 hr of biocompatible treatments were significantly lower than those detected after 4 hr of unselected treatments (YT4 0.78 +/- 0.34 ng/mL; p < 0.05), even though the percentage of patients with positive PCT values (> 0.5 ng/mL) remained almost unchanged. No significant modification in mean levels or in the frequency of positive values was observed for CRP, SAA and homocysteine. After 4 months of highly biocompatible treatments, a reduction in intradialytic enhancements of all inflammation markers was detected. Our data support the conclusion that PCT is a more precise marker than other traditional tests to evaluate micro-inflammation and biocompatibility in HD.     

Diagnostic value of procalcitonin for bacterial infections in patients undergoing hemodialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThe diagnostic value of procalcitonin (PCT) in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) remains unclear.MethodsWe searched multiple databases (PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library) for studies published through August 2021 that evaluated the diagnostic performance of PCT in patients undergoing HD and having suspected bacterial infections. The bivariate fixed effects model was used to calculate pooled sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratio (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR), and summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves.ResultsWe identified a total of 1799 studies, of which seven diagnostic studies comprised 1444 patients and 430 bacterial infection episodes. Bivariate pooled sensitivity and specificity for PCT were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.85–0.94) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.56–0.95), respectively. Furthermore, pooled DOR, PLR, NLR, and area under the curve (AUC) were 47 (95% CI: 11–209), 5.4 (95% CI: 1.7–16.9), 0.12 (95% CI: 0.07–0.20), and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90–0.94), respectively. We also compared the diagnostic accuracy of PCT and C-reactive protein (CRP), and our results showed that the diagnostic accuracy parameters for PCT were significantly higher than those for CRP.ConclusionsPCT is a useful marker for diagnosis of bacterial infections in patients undergoing HD at a cutoff value of 1.5 ng/ml.     

Does haemodialysis significantly affect serum linezolid concentrations in critically ill patients with renal failure? A pilot investigation.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that a single haemodialysis (HD) session removes about one-third of the linezolid dose administered, but it is unknown whether in critically ill patients with renal failure on intermittent HD, this removal adversely affects serum antibiotic concentrations. METHODS: Five male critically ill patients (mean age 75 years, range 68-82; APACHE II score 26.4, range 23-29; survival 2/5) with sepsis and renal failure on haemodialysis, were administered i.v. linezolid, 600 mg every 12 h. Serum antibiotic levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. We classified trough concentrations as 'with HD' when a HD session was performed after linezolid infusion, and 'without HD' otherwise. We also computed population pharmacokinetics while patients were on-dialysis and off-dialysis. RESULTS: A total of 222 serum linezolid concentrations were available over 36 days of antibiotic therapy, during which patients underwent 31 HD sessions. Trough serum linezolid levels averaged 5.83 mg/l (range 1.48-15.84), exceeding 4.0 mg/l in 68.9% of the samples; however, the trough levels 'with HD' were lower than those 'without HD' (4.68 mg/l [range 1.48-9.07] vs 6.74 mg/l [range 2.04-15.84], P<0.001). Clearance and half-life were 6.0 l/h and 4.0 h, respectively, while patients were on-dialysis, and 4.4 l/h and 7.3 h, respectively, when they were off-dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: HD can significantly reduce serum linezolid levels in critically ill patients with renal failure.     

血清感染指标对颈后路单开门椎管扩大成形术后早期感染的诊断价值

目的：探讨白细胞计数（WBC）、C-反应蛋白（CRP）、血清降钙素原（PCT）及红细胞沉降率（ESR）水平对颈后路单开门椎管扩大成形术后早期感染的诊断价值,及时发现、预防和治疗术后感染患者。方法：回顾性分析2010年1月至2019年4月颈后路单开门椎管扩大成形术后早期发热的患者120例;按照患者伤口渗出液细菌学培养的结果将其分为感染组（53例）和未感染组（67例）,感染组中,男32例,女21例,年龄48～63（52.28±6.36）岁;未感染组中,男37例,女30例,年龄46～62（51.63±5.82）岁。并根据感染组患者术后感染类型将其分为深部手术部位感染组（30例）和浅表手术部位感染组（23例）,深部手术部位感染组中,男19例,女11例,年龄50～63（53.16±5.62）岁;浅表手术部位感染组中,男13例,女10例,年龄48～61（52.15±5.68）岁。比较组间患者及组内患者手术前后WBC计数、CRP、PCT及ESR血清感染指标。收集纳入的120例患者血清感染学指标数据并根据血清感染指标诊断感染的灵敏度及特异性,以1-特异性为横坐标,灵敏度为纵坐标绘制受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线对WBC计数、CRP、PCT以及ESR感染指标进行早期感染诊断的准确性评估。结果：术前：感染组和未感染组患者的WBC计数、CRP、PCT、ESR血清感染指标水平相近（P>0.05）;术后：感染组患者的WBC计数、CRP、PCT、ESR感染指标较未感染组高（P<0.05）。在术后感染的患者中,WBC计数、CRP、PCT以及ESR血清感染指标水平在不同术后感染类型的患者中存在差异（P<0.05）。未感染组患者的WBC计数、CRP、PCT以及ESR血清感染指标总体呈现出先升后降的趋势。WBC计数感染指标的受试者曲线下面积（AUC）为0.637（P<0.05）;CRP感染指标的AUC为0.792（P<0.05）;PCT感染指标的AUC为0.774（P<0.05）;ESR感染指标的AUC为0.783（P<0.05）。结论：WBC计数、CRP、PCT、ESR血清感染指标可用于颈后路单开门椎管扩大成形术后早期感染的诊断,除此之外,上述4种感染指标变化的综合分析可用于不同术后感染类型的鉴别。WBC计数指标对于早期感染诊断的准确性较低,CRP、PCT以及ESR指标对于早期感染诊断的准确性较好。总体上来说,CRP、PCT以及ESR血清感染指标对于颈后路单开门椎管扩大成形术后早期感染的诊断来说具有重要的临床意义,有助于临床工作者尽早发现术后早期感染以利于随后的相应治疗。     

Effects of dialyser and dialysate on the acute phase reaction in clinical bicarbonate dialysis.

BACKGROUND: In chronic haemodialysis (HD), morbidity may result from repetitive induction of the acute phase response, caused by a bioincompatible dialysis membrane and/or contaminated dialysate. In the present study, cytokine release (interleukin-6, IL-6) and subsequent production of acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, CRP and secretory phospholipase A(2), sPLA(2)) were assessed to investigate whether the HD-induced acute phase reaction depends mainly on the type of membrane or on the sterility of the dialysate. METHODS: In 11 patients, IL-6, CRP and sPLA(2) levels were assessed in blood samples drawn before (t(0)), at the end (t(180)) and 24 h after the start of HD (t(1440)). All patients were dialysed on Cuprammonium (CU) and Polysulphon (PS) dialysers and seven patients underwent an additional HD session on CU plus a dialysate filter (CUf). RESULTS: IL-6 levels were increased significantly at t(180) compared with t(0) (P<0.02) with both CU and CUf. At t(1440), IL-6 levels had returned to baseline. In contrast, marked fluctuations did not occur during HD with PS. At t(180), IL-6 was significantly greater with CU and CUf devices, than with PS (P<0.02). Following HD with CU and CUf, a significant increase in CRP was observed at t(1440), compared with postdialysis values (P相似文献   

Elevated Hepatocyte Growth Factor Levels at the Beginning of High-Flux Hemodialysis Are Due to Heparin Administration

Background. It has been reported that hemodialysis (HD) stimulates hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) release, but it is not clear if this stimulation is due to HD itself or to heparin used during HD. To clarify this issue, we undertook the present study. Methods. We studied 18 HD patients using high-flux dialyzers, during a single 4-hr hemodialysis session (session A). The dialyzers were pre-rinse with normal saline without heparin, and HD was started with zero ultrafiltration and without anticoagulation. Anticoagulation was administered as IV injection (80 IU/kg of LMWH enoxaparin sodium) 10 min after the beginning of HD. HD was continued for 10 more minutes and then as prescribed. HGF serum levels were measured before the beginning of the HD session (sample t0) as well as 10 and 20 minutes after the beginning of the session (samples t10 and t20). In six more patients (controls), the same study was repeated but without the administration of LMWH during the first 20 min of HD initiation (session B). Results. In comparison with t0, t10 HGF serum levels changed significantly in neither session A nor in session B. However, at t20, HGF levels increased significantly in session A compared with t0 (increment 666.3 ± 211.0%, p < 0.0001) and t10 (increment 894.2 ± 506.0%, p < 0.0001), but not in session B. No differences were found between sessions A and B at samples t0 and t10 (p?=?NS). HGF serum levels at t20 in session A were found to be higher compared with corresponding levels in session B (p < 0.0001). Conclusion. Elevated HGF serum levels at the beginning of high-flux HD session are due to LMWH administration.     

维持性血透患者血清NGAL水平与体内铁存储的相关性研究

目的:探讨在维持性血液透析患者,其血清NGAL(中性粒细胞明胶酶相关载脂蛋白)水平与体内铁存储的关系。方法:从2010年10月开始,我们纳入我院血液透析患者人数150例,同时纳入50例健康人为对照。收集患者及健康对照人群的人口学资料、相关的临床和生化学资料,透析前后NGAL及透析前CRP、转铁蛋白饱和度、铁蛋白、血清铁、转铁蛋白等。做透析前血清NGAL与CRP、转铁蛋白饱和度、铁蛋白、血清铁、转铁蛋白相关性分析。评估NGAL水平在判断体内铁存储的价值。结果:(1)血液透析患者其血清NGAL透析前水平为(445.45±50.34)ng/ml,透析后为(369±50.34)ng/ml,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。(2)血液透析患者其血清NGAL水平与CRP、spKt/V、TSAT等指标均有正相关关系(P<0.05),但与铁蛋白、血清铁、转铁蛋白无明显线性关系(P>0.05)。在多元线性回归模型中,NGAL水平与CRP、spKt/V、TSAT有相关关系(P<0.05)。(3)ROC曲线表明,NGAL水平较铁蛋白更好的反映体内铁存储情况,但差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:在血液透析患者,血清NGAL与spKt/V、CRP、TSAT有不同程度的正相关。血清NGAL能较好的反映体内铁存储情况。     

Procalcitonin as a marker of acute pyelonephritis in infants and children

In the absence of specific symptomatology in children, the early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis is a challenge, particularly during infancy. In an attempt to differentiate acute pyelonephritis from lower urinary tract infection (UTI), we measured serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels and compared these with other commonly used inflammatory markers. We evaluated the ability of serum PCT levels to predict renal involvement, as assessed by dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP), leukocyte counts, and PCT levels were measured in 64 children admitted for suspected UTI. Renal parenchymal involvement was assessed by ^99mTc-DMSA scintigraphy in the first 7 days after admission. In acute pyelonephritis, the median PCT level was significantly higher than in the lower UTI group (3.41, range 0.36–12.4 μg/l vs. 0.13, range 0.02–2.15 μg/l, P<0.0001). In these two groups, respectively, median CRP levels were 120 (range 62–249 mg/l) and 74.5 (range 14.5–235 mg/l, P=0.012) and leukocyte counts were 15,910/mm³ (range 10,200–26,900) and 14,600/mm³ (range 8,190–26,470, P=0.34). For the prediction of acute pyelonephritis, the sensitivity and specificity of PCT were 94.1% and 89.7%, respectively; CRP had a sensitivity of 100%, but a specificity of 18.5%. We conclude that serum PCT may be an accurate marker for early diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis. Received: 11 July 2001 / Revised: 25 October 2001 / Accepted: 18 November 2001     

No generation of bradykinin with a new polyacrylonitrile membrane (SPAN) in haemodialysis patients treated with ACE inhibitors

BACKGROUND: Anaphylactoid reactions occurring in uraemic patients haemodialysedwith polyacrylonitrile haemodialysis (HD) membranes and beingtreated with ACE inhibitors have been attributed to an excessivegeneration of bradykinin. METHODS: Here we tested in a prospective trial a new type of polyacrylonitrilemembrane (SPAN) with respect to bradykinin generation in nineHD patients receiving either captopril or enalapril. Each patienthad three consecutive HD sessions with each of the three testedmembranes, high-flux SPAN, high-flux polysulphone (F60) andlow-flux Hemophan (GFS Plus 16). RESULTS: No clinical signs of anaphylactoid reactions were observed inany of these patients but the number of patients was relativelysmall and the duration of exposure to different membranes relativelyshort. At 5 min after the start of HD session, plasma bradykininlevels were significantly higher in the venous than in the arterialline for all three HD membranes: SPAN, 18.5±11.9 versus12.4±5.3 fmol/ml (p<0.05); F60, 19.0±13.8 versus11.5±6.5 fmol/ml (P<0.01); and GFS Plus 16, 39.1±22.9versus 15.8±12.4 fmol/ml (P<0.005), mean±SDrespectively. Higher venous line levels were still observedat the 15 and 60 min time points for F60 and GFS Plus 16, butnot for SPAN. However, these levels were still insignificantcompared to levels measured during episodes of anaphylacticshock from the literature. Plasma histamine and C5a anaphylatoxinlevels did not show any increase during HD with SPAN. CONCLUSIONS: The SPAN membrane did not induce significant bradykinin releasein dialysis patients on ACE-inhibitor therapy. It may thereforebe used for high-flux dialysis in such patients.     

Evaluation of Serum Levels of Procalcitonin and C-Reactive Protein as Prognostic Indicators in Burns

Background Burn is a leading cause of fatality in a developing country. C-reactive protein levels (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) can be prognostic indicators for the burn patients'' mortality. Aim To assess serial levels of serum PCT and serum CRP as prognostic indicators in burns. Patient and Methods In patients admitted with burns, alternate-day serum PCT and CRP were measured from the time of admission until the time of discharge or until survival. The change in trends of CRP and PCT serum levels were studied, and it was then correlated with mortality among these burn patients. Results The first-day value of serum PCT > 1772 pg/mL and serum CRP > 71 mg/mL or any value of serum PCT > 2163 pg/mL and of serum CRP > 90 mg/L indicate a poor prognosis in burns. Conclusions The day-1 values of PCT and CRP were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than survivors in burns. The increasing trends of serum PCT and CRP levels are independent predictors of mortality in burns requiring prompt intervention. Rising PCT and CRP level denote poor prognosis in burns with an increased likelihood of death by 4.5 and 23.6 times, respectively.     

Relevance of procalcitonin levels in comparison to other markers of inflammation in hemodialysis patients

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in hemodialysis (HD) patients and its correlation to other traditional inflammatory markers. METHODS: We measured plasma PCT levels in 120 patients on maintenance HD. PCT levels were compared with C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prealbumin, and albumin. We also examined the above parameters subgroups, especially in diabetics and the elderly. Relations between parameters were studied by Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: PCT concentrations were higher than the upper normal limit of 0.5 ng/ mL in 38% of the patients. All patients with increased CRP had PCT concentrations higher than the upper normal limit. Plasma CRP concentrations were positively correlated to IL-6 (r = 0.304). Prealbumin was negatively correlated with CRP (r = 0.259) and with IL-6 (r = 0.388). CONCLUSIONS: The combination of elevated IL-6 and CRP levels was associated with an altered nutritional status. The concomitant elevations in PCT, CRP, and IL-6 could be more sensitive in the evaluation of inflammation.     

Relevance of Procalcitonin Levels in Comparison to Other Markers of Inflammation in Hemodialysis Patients

Purpose. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) in hemodialysis (HD) patients and its correlation to other traditional inflammatory markers. Methods. We measured plasma PCT levels in 120 patients on maintenance HD. PCT levels were compared with C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), prealbumin, and albumin. We also examined the above parameters subgroups, especially in diabetics and the elderly. Relations between parameters were studied by Spearman's correlation. Results. PCT concentrations were higher than the upper normal limit of 0.5 ng/mL in 38% of the patients. All patients with increased CRP had PCT concentrations higher than the upper normal limit. Plasma CRP concentrations were positively correlated to IL-6 (r = 0.304). Prealbumin was negatively correlated with CRP (r = 0.259) and with IL-6 (r = 0.388). Conclusions. The combination of elevated IL-6 and CRP levels was associated with an altered nutritional status. The concomitant elevations in PCT, CRP, and IL-6 could be more sensitive in the evaluation of inflammation.     

Effect of an increase in C-reactive protein level during a hemodialysis session on mortality

The prevalence of chronic inflammation is high in dialysis patients. Moreover, it is associated with an increased mortality risk, yet the origin of chronic inflammation in dialysis patients remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a hemodialysis session (HD) on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and to study the relation with survival. As part of a large, prospective, multicenter study in the Netherlands (Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis), patients who were started on dialysis treatment between September 1997 and May 1999 were included. Demographic data, clinical data, and serum samples were collected at regularly timed intervals. From this cohort, a random sample of patients was taken. CRP levels were determined before and after an HD session and before the next session. Date of death or censoring was recorded until September 2002. A total of 186 HD patients were included. Mean age was 65 yr (SD, 13); 56% were male. A total of 71 patients had a CRP level below the detection limit (3 mg/L), 68 patients showed no increase in CRP during an HD session (no-increase group), and 47 (25%) patients showed an increase in CRP level during an HD session (increase-group). No statistically difference in mean CRP levels before the dialysis session was found between the increase group (22.3 mg/L) and the no-increase group (19.4 mg/L). In the subsequent interdialytic period, CRP levels returned to the levels of the initial CRP value. Two-year survival was 44% in the increase group and 66% in the no-increase group (P = 0.09). Independent of CRP level before the session and adjusted for age, comorbidity, nutritional status, and primary kidney disease, a raise of 1 mg/L CRP during a session was associated with a 9% increased mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.16). The present study showed an increase in CRP level during a single dialysis session in 25% of the patients; during the succeeding interdialytic period, CRP level returned to its original value. More important, however, an increase in CRP level during an HD session was independently associated with a higher mortality risk.     

Effects of L-carnitine infusions on inflammatory and nutritional markers in haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Carnitine loss through dialysis membranes is shown to be related to the lack of carnitine in long-term haemodialysis patients. It has been previously reported that haemodialysis patients might have benefited from carnitine supplementation. METHODS: A total of 21 chronic haemodialysis patients maintaining carnitine supplementation and 21 controls (haemodialysis patients not receiving carnitine) were included in the study. L-carnitine was used intravenously three times a week after each haemodialysis session, at a 20 mg/kg dose. C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid profile, transferrin, total protein and albumin levels were determined at baseline after 3 and 6 months of treatment, and compared with the control group. RESULTS: CRP levels were significantly decreased in carnitine group in contrast to the increase in the control group. Transferrin, total protein and albumin levels and body mass index (BMI) of the patients rose in the carnitine group. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant benefit of L-carnitine on CRP, transferrin, total protein and albumin levels of the haemodialysis patients.     

Serum procalcitonin levels are elevated in esophageal cancer patients with postoperative infectious complications

BACKGROUND: The normal systemic inflammatory response to surgical stimuli often makes early diagnosis of postoperative infections difficult. PURPOSE: We investigated whether serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels may be a useful marker of bacterial infections in patients after invasive surgery. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 40 patients who had undergone radical surgery for esophageal carcinoma by a right thoracoabdominal approach. Nine patients were diagnosed to have a postoperative infection during the first 7 days after surgery. Changes in serum PCT levels were compared between the group diagnosed to have postoperative infection (infection group) and the group without infection (noninfection group). RESULTS: The postoperative serum PCT levels were significantly higher in the infection group than in the noninfection group (ANOVA: p < 0.01). Serum PCT peaked on postoperative day (POD) 5 in the infection group (8.7 +/- 8.2 ng/ml, mean +/- SD) and on POD 1 in the noninfection group (0.5 +/- 0.5 ng/ml). No significant differences were found between the two groups in leukocyte count, serum CRP or cytokine levels. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve was constructed for infection identification. The area under the ROC curve for peak postoperative PCT was 0.968, and at a cutoff value of 2.0 ng/ml, the sensitivity was 89% and the specificity was 93%. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PCT levels may be useful for the early diagnosis of postoperative infectious complications.     

In-vivo induction of monocyte chemotactic and activating factor in patients with chronic renal failure

BACKGROUND: Monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF) is a novelinflammatory cytokine belonging to the chemokine superfamilyand stimulates chemotaxis and activation of monocytes. Increasedproduction of inflammatory cytokines has been shown in patientswith end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study was thus conductedto determine plasma MCAF in patients with ESRD. METHODS: Plasma levels of MCAF were determined by ELISA. Gene expressionof MCAF in PBMC was assessed by RT-PCR followed by southernblot hybridization. RESULTS: Plasma MCAF in 72 patients with long-term haemodialysis (HD)(162.4 ± 58.2 pg/ml) and eight uraemic patients not yetdialysed (167.6 ± 57.7 pg/ml) was found to exceed significantlythe level in 24 normal subjects (86.0±19.4 pg/ml). MCAFbefore HD session in long-term HD patients was the same whetherHD was carried out with either cellulosic (CUP) or synthetic(PMMA) membrane dialysers. Intradialytic increase in plasmaMCAF during a single HD session was observed in both patientgroups dialysed with CUP or PMMA membranes. The results of RT-PCRanalysis indicated that haemodialysis stimulates the gene expressionof MCAF in PBMC in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: The present results indicate that increased levels of plasmaMCAF may promote the activation of monocytes in patients withESRD.