Serum CRP level is positively correlated with the cardiovascular disease in dialysis patients

Lee, Kyun Sang; Lee, Youn Kyoung; Park, Byoung Seok; Jeong, Taek Kyun; Jeong, Gyun Ho; Ma, Seong Kwon; Kim, Soo Wan; Kim, Nam Ho; Choi, Ki Chul

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Atherosclerosis, a major problem in patients undergoing chronic dialysis treatment, has been characterized as an inflammatory disease. Cardiovascular disease is the major cause of mortality, accouting for approximately half of all deaths in this population. The present study was aimed whether CRP, an important inflammatory marker, might be associated with cardiovascular risk in dialysis patients.
METHODS
We performed retrospective study in 77 dialysis patients. Patients were divided into the elevated CRP group (>8 mg/L, n=11) and the normal CRP group (RESULTS
The number of patients included in the study was 77 (54.4% male; mean age, 53.82+/-12.37 year) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 22.46+/-3.63. The patients received hemodialysis treatment were 71.1% and those received peritoneal dialysis treatment were 28.9%. Mean CRP level was 5.86+/-4.47 mg/L. The sex between the elevated CRP group and the normal CRP group had no difference. The mean age was higher in the elevated CRP group (p=0.019). Patients experienced cardiovascular diseases was 35.1%. Elevated CRP group (>8 mg/L) showed significant higher cardiovascular events (by chi-squre test, p=0.032). BMI, smoking, alcohol, dialysis modality, lipid parameters, BUN, serum creatinine, serum protein, serum albumin and seurm TIBC did not show significant difference between two groups. Correlation between CRP and other biochemical parameters was analysed. Only ESR was positively correlated with CRP. In a subsequent analysis, elevated CRP group had significantly higher cardiovascular risk (by stepwise logistic regression method, odd ratio = 6.59;95% CI, 1.13 to 38.28).
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that CRP level is correlated with cardiovascular risk in dialysis patients.