The influence of hemodialysis on serum sialic acid levels in chronic renal failure

Abstract

Background. It has been observed that there is an increase in serum sialic acid level in chronic renal diseases and endstage renal failure requiring hemodialysis, and the hemodialysis procedure causes increased cytokine production. Thus, it is expected that hemodialysis causes increases in the serum levels of acute phase reactants and sialic acid. Nevertheless, the changes in serum sialic acid level in hemodialysis have not been examined sufficiently. In our study, we examined the effect of hemodialysis on serum sialic acid level.

Methods. A total of 54 patients on hemodialysis therapy for chronic renal failure (32 men; 22 women) were examined. The patients were evaluated in four groups according to their age, sex, duration of hemodialysis, and whether they were diabetic. Serum sialic acid levels before and after hemodialysis, done with a hemophane membrane, were measured by the thiobarbituric acid method described by Warren.

Results. The serum sialic acid levels of chronic renal failure patients requiring hemodialysis were increased with respect to the healthy control group, independent of age, duration of therapy, and whether there was accompanying diabetes. Hemodialysis did not provide clearance of sialic acid; to the contrary, it caused an insignificant increase in serum sialic acid levels.

Conclusions. In chronic renal failure, the improved serum sialic acid level probably reaches a definite value, and this value is not affected by factors such as diabetes, age, or sex. Serum sialic acid level is minimally influenced by hemodialysis performed with a hemophane membrane.