Increased C-reactive protein following hemodialysis predicts cardiac hypertrophy in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Abstract Background: Chronic inflammation characterized by increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels strongly predicts cardiovascular death in both nonrenal and renal patients. We investigated the role of hemodialysis-induced elevated CRP levels on cardiac hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients. Methods: We grouped 118 stable patients as responders and nonresponders according to the response of CRP (>4 mg/L) after a single hemodialysis session. Results: Predialysis CRP and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations were significantly greater in responders compared with nonresponders (6.4 versus 2.0 mg/L and 8.7 versus 4.8 ng/L, respectively; P P P P P P P P P P P P P r = 0.500; r = 0.458; P r = 0.252; P P P P Conclusion: Elevated CRP concentrations associated with hemodialysis may be useful for the prediction of proatherogenic reactivity and cardiac hypertrophy. Am J Kidney Dis 40:1230-1239. © 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.