title: Assessment of prealbumin in hemodialysis and renal-transplant patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed prealbumin in hemodialysis (HD) and renal-transplant (RT) patients, and compared it with other biochemical and anthropometric markers, clinical conditions, and treatment variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a research design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum prealbumin was measured in 84 HD patients with a mean age of 60.47 +/- 17.81 years and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.38 +/- 4.87 kg/m(2), and in 154 RT patients with a mean age of 44.08 +/- 13.59 years and a mean BMI of 24.97 +/- 3.87 kg/m(2). Renal-transplant patients were divided into three groups, based on year of renal transplantation (first year, first to second year, and third to tenth year). Serum albumin, creatinine, cholesterol, glucose, triglycerides, white blood cells, BMI, midarm circumference, and triceps and biceps skinfolds were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prealbumin levels were significantly higher in HD patients compared with RT patients. Both groups had prealbumin levels <30 mg/dL, but almost all RT patients in our study had prealbumin levels <20 mg/dL. Gender, age, and presence of anemia, hypertension, and diabetes did not significantly affect prealbumin levels in the two groups. Prealbumin levels were significantly positively correlated with duration of dialysis in the HD group and with albumin in the RT group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemodialysis patients have higher levels of prealbumin compared with RT patients. Prealbumin levels are below normal range in both groups of patients. Prealbumin reflects nutritional status in RT patients, but is also affected by other factors.
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Athens, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. stauri_x@yahoo.gr <stauri_x@yahoo.gr>
authors.forename: Stavroula
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chrysostomou
authors.forename: Chalalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stathakis
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Petrikkos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daikos
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gompou
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000032:analysis*; D011502:Protein-Energy Malnutrition / Q000175:diagnosis; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D012885:Skinfold Thickness; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011228:Prealbumin; D012709:Serum Albumin