title: Haptoglobin phenotype as a predictive factor of mortality in diabetic haemodialysis patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mortality rate in diabetic dialysis patients (DDPs) is over 15% per year, with the cause of death most often attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD) or bacterial infection (sepsis). Identification of genetic markers predictive of early mortality would be useful in the evaluation of therapies for the reduction of mortality rate in this population. Haptoglobin (Hp) is a polymorphic protein which appears to confer differential susceptibility to bacterial infection and CVD. We therefore proposed that Hp phenotype can predict mortality in DDPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We tested this hypothesis prospectively in a longitudinal study of 392 dialysis patients from eight medical centres in Israel. Hp was determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Patients were followed for all-cause mortality over a 3-year period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that Hp phenotype was a significant predictor of mortality in DDPs stratified by age. In diabetic individuals over 60 years of age there was a decrease in mortality associated with the Hp 1-1 phenotype (P = 0.03). However, in younger DDPs the Hp 2-2 phenotype was associated with a decreased mortality rate (P = 0.003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hp phenotype may be useful in the risk stratification algorithm and management of DDPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel. burbea@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zvi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Burbea
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nakhoul
authors.forename: Roaa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zoabi
authors.forename: Irit
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hochberg
authors.forename: Nina S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Sidney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benchetrit
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Weissgarten
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tovbin
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knecht
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iaina
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.forename: Batya
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kristal
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Levy
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000401:mortality*; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins