A hazardous link between malnutrition, inflammation and oxidative stress in renal patients.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis is the main cause of mortality in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Malnutrition, inflammation and diminished paraoxonase activity were used to calculate the sum of risk factors for atherosclerosis development in a cohort of 141 chronic renal disease patients. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was implemented to assess risk of death. RESULTS: Kaplan-Meier analysis (Log rank=12.06, P=0.0072) showed higher risk of death with increasing number of risk factors in haemodialysis patients. CONCLUSIONS: Malnutrition in combination with inflammation and oxidative stress is associated with higher mortality in patients on long-term haemodialysis.