PROCALCITONIN AND MALONDIALDEHYDE AS MARKERS OF INFLAMMATION IN HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS

Abstract

Aim: Procalcitonin (PCT) is known as an infection marker. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is considered as a marker of oxidative stress. Both have been found to be elevated in peritoneal dialysis patients. In this study, we measured procalcitonin, malondialdehyde, and traditional inflammation markers, including albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), fibrinogen, lymphocyte counts, and white blood cell counts (WBC) in hemodialysis (HD) patients, patients with moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD), and healthy subjects. Material and Method: We measured PCT, MDA, albumin, CRP, ESR, fibrinogen, lymphocyte counts, and WBC in 35 maintenance HD patients, 30 patients with moderate chronic kidney disease and a control group with normal kidney functions. The correlation of PCT and MDA with traditional inflammation markers (albumin, CRP, ESR, fibrinogen, lymphocyte counts, and WBC) was also evaluated. Results: PCT levels were significantly higher and were correlated with CRP levels in the HD group (r=0.89). MDA was significantly higher in HD patients and non-dialysis CKD patients as compared to healthy controls. Discussion: Higher PCT levels in HD patients might be caused by minimal endotoxin contamination. Elevated CRP levels, known as a marker of inflammation, were correlated with elevated PCT levels. PCT may also be a marker of inflammation.