Interleukin-6 is a better predictor of mortality as compared to C-reactive protein, homocysteine, pentosidine and advanced oxidation protein products in hemodialysis patients

Blood Purif. 2008;26(2):204-10. doi: 10.1159/000117438. Epub 2008 Feb 20.

Abstract

Inflammatory markers predict mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients, whereas a possible association between oxidative stress (OS) markers and survival is less clear. We assessed the impact on all-cause mortality of baseline inflammatory [high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and OS markers (advanced oxidation protein products, pentosidine, homocysteine) in 112 HD patients. We found no significant correlations between inflammatory and OS markers. During the 5.5 years of follow-up, 51 patients died. In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, the survival rate was reduced in patients with IL-6 higher than the median (IL-6 >4.2 pg/ml) (log- rank = 6.47; p = 0.01), in diabetics (log-rank = 12.26; p = 0.0005) and in older patients (log-rank = 11.22; p = 0.0008). Moreover, in Cox analysis only IL-6 and age were independently associated with mortality. We conclude that in this group of prevalent Brazilian HD patients, IL-6 was a better predictor of survival than other inflammatory and OS markers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives
  • Arginine / analysis
  • C-Reactive Protein / analysis
  • Female
  • Glycation End Products, Advanced / analysis
  • Homocysteine / analysis
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / blood*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / diagnosis
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / mortality*
  • Lysine / analogs & derivatives
  • Lysine / analysis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Prognosis
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Renal Dialysis* / mortality
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Glycation End Products, Advanced
  • Interleukin-6
  • Proteins
  • Homocysteine
  • C-Reactive Protein
  • Arginine
  • pentosidine
  • Lysine