The Relationship between Serum Procalcitonin and Dialysis Adequacy in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract

Introduction: In hemodialysis (HD) patients procalcitonin (PCT) considered as an early predictor of acute infection. It represents a new and potential marker of inflammation and may correlate with dialysis adequacy. This makes procalcitonin a potential biomarker for obesity-related low-grade inflammation.
Objective: The aim of the work was to assess procalcitonin level in obese prevalent hemodialysis patients and its relation to hemodialysis adequacy.
Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 90 patients divided into 3 groups, 40 obese (BMI ≥ 30 Kg/m2) ESRD patients on regular hemodialysis (group A), 40 non obese (BMI < 25 Kg/m2) ESRD patients on regular hemodialysis (group B) attending at Dialysis Unit, El-Sahel Teaching Hospital and 10 healthy individuals with BMI < 25 Kg/m2 as a control group (group C). All patients were subjected to detailed history taking and general examination. All patients were laboratory investigated for CBC, serum urea, creatinine, CRP, urea reduction ratio (URR), equilibrated Kt/v. All controls were subjected to written informed consent, full history, examination and CRP level. Procalcitonin level was done by ELISA technique for all patients and controls.
Results: In our study, we found that there was a higher level of procalcitonin (PCT) in obese hemodialysis patient than non-obese. We also found that there was no correlation between PCT and hemodialysis adequacy in our study population.
Conclusion: It could be concluded that procalcitonin is a potential biomarker for obesity-related low-grade inflammation, but not related to hemodialysis adequacy.