title: Mechanisms of hypoalbuminemia in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: Hypoalbuminemia is the most powerful predictor of mortality in end-stage renal disease. Since protein-calorie malnutrition can decrease albumin synthesis it is assumed that hypoalbuminemia results principally from malnutrition in these patients, but albumin synthesis may also be decreased as part of the acute-phase response, and hypoalbuminemia can also result from redistribution of albumin pools or from albumin losses. We measured albumin synthesis, fractional catabolic rate, and distribution from the turnover of [125I] human albumin in six hemodialysis patients with plasma albumin less than 35 mg/ml and in six patients with plasma albumin greater than 40 mg/ml. Patients with liver disease, HIV, or other infection were excluded. Both groups were maintained with high-flux polysulfone dialyzers for more than three months. Kt/Vurea and PCR were measured during each dialysis (N = 12 to 18/patient). A four-day calorie and protein intake was determined by dietary history and long-term nutritional status was determined anthropometrically. Measured variables included serum urea, creatinine, transferrin, and the positive acute-phase proteins alpha 2- macroglobulin, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and IGF-1. Albumin synthesis was significantly reduced in the low albumin group. There were no differences in dietary intake, body composition, PCR, BUN, creatinine, or Kt/Vurea. Plasma albumin concentration correlated negatively with ferritin, C-reactive protein and alpha 2-macroglobulin. Albumin synthesis rate correlated negatively with both alpha 2-macroglobulin and Kt/Vurea. Both plasma albumin concentration and synthesis rate correlated positively with IGF-1, and both were independent of PCR and all other nutrition-related variables.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California at Davis, School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kaysen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rathore
authors.forename: G C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Shearer
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Depner
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001769:Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D012709:Serum Albumin