title: C-reactive-protein and cytokine plasma levels in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Markers of an acute phase reaction, such as C-reactive protein (CRP) or interleukin-6 (IL-6), are predictive for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in normal subjects and in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Le-vels of acute phase proteins (APP) may vary with time even in the absence of an acute illness and this may weaken the relationship between APP and clinical outcome. We investigated the intra- and inter-individual patterns of several inflammatory markers in HD patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of CRP, IL-10, RANTES, TNF-RI, leptin, ferritin and albumin were measured weekly for 12 weeks after the long inter-dialytic interval by ELISA in ten stable HD patients with no clinical signs of infection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Considerable variability was observed. Intra-individual differences were largest for RANTES (coefficient of variation - CV - 80%, followed by CRP (51%), and low for albumin (11%) and ferritin (12%). Inter-individual variability was highest for IL-10 (135%) followed by CRP (88%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present data suggest that single point measurements of APP, particularly CRP, may not be sufficient to assess the cardiovascular risk in HD patients. Even in patients with no apparent signs of infection, there is considerable variability in plasma levels of APP and repeated measurements are recommended to identify patients at high cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology and Intensive Care Internal Medicine, Charité, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany. olaf.boenisch@charite.de
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boenisch
authors.forename: Klaus-Dieter
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Ehmke
authors.forename: Adalbert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Heddergott
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Naoum
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Frei
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schindler
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000032:analysis; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D016207:Cytokines; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D016753:Interleukin-10; D002097:C-Reactive Protein