title: Alteration of redox state of human serum albumin before and after hemodialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Persistent hypoalbuminemia is a predictor of death in long-term maintenance hemodialysis patients, although cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death. A decreased serum antioxidant activity in maintenance hemodialysis patients may contribute to increased oxidative damage, and may be associated with accelerated atherosclerotic changes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this study was to examine the redox state of human serum albumin in maintenance hemodialysis patients by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a fluorescence detector.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HPLC of human serum albumin on a Shodex-Asahipak ES-502N column at pH 4.85 showed a clear resolution of human mercaptalbumin (HMA) and nonmercaptalbumin (HNA), which are the reduced and oxidized forms of human serum albumin, respectively. The mean +/- SD percentage of the HMA fraction of human serum albumin was significantly lower in maintenance hemodialysis patients than in age-matched normal subjects. The percentage of HMA increased 3-5 h after starting the hemodialysis and then decreased to subnormal levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This suggests that serum albumin may be a major extracellular antioxidant in maintenance hemodialysis patients, and that hemodialysis may rescue serum albumin reduction by inducing intermolecular sulfhydryl-disulfide exchange reaction.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. soejim@aol.com
authors.forename: Akinori
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soejima
authors.forename: Naoki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsuzawa
authors.forename: Tomoya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Rio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Takako
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ootsuka
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fukuoka
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.forename: Seiichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Era
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004220:Disulfides / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D034141:Hypoalbuminemia / Q000097:blood*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D004220:Disulfides; D012709:Serum Albumin; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C001702:mercaptoalbumin