ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: This study aimed at evaluating oxidative stress (OS) markers (i) in a cross-sectional study of hemodialysis (HD) patients to investigate potential regional effects of these markers and (ii) in a prospective crossover study to evaluate vitamin E-coated membrane (VE) effects. METHODS: At baseline, OS parameters including low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidizability were measured in HD patients from five dialysis facilities. Patients were then randomly assigned to two treatment groups: group I patients (n = 33) switching to VE, and group II patients (n = 29) still using reference polysulfone (PS) membrane. After 3 months, patients were switched from VE to PS and vice versa for 6 months. The same OS parameters were measured after each period. RESULTS: At baseline, the cross-sectional analysis of LDL oxidizability showed a regional effect. By contrast, the crossover study did not show beneficial effects of VE on this parameter. CONCLUSION: Regional variations of LDL oxidizability in HD patients exist and may explain discrepancies in interventional therapy on OS.