Aim: To evaluate the association between C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and the periodontal status of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Methods: 41 HD patients on rHuEPO therapy were enrolled in the study. Hematologic and biochemical parameters and CRP levels were recorded. The plaque index, gingival index, probing pocket depth and periodontal disease index were used to identify periodontal disease. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (n = 21), high CRP, and group 2 (n = 20), normal CRP. Results: After periodontal therapy, while the mean CRP level and erythrocyte sedimentation rate declined from 30.46 to 10.36 (p = 0.001) and from 93.4 to 35.8 mg/l (p = 0.001), respectively, the hemoglobin level increased from 9.4 to 10.6 g/dl (p = 0.009) and hematocrit level from 28.2 to 32.0% (p = 0.008) in group 1. Conclusion: Periodontitis is an important and occult source of chronic inflammation and increases the CRP levels in HD patients. Periodontitis can cause hyporesponsiveness to rHuEPO treatment and decrease the hemoglobin levels.

The prevalence of occult HBV infection is not high in haemodialysis patients with chronic HCV in our region. This result of our study has to be evaluated in consideration of the interaction between HBsAg positivity (8%-10%) and frequency of HBV mutants in our region.

No abstract

Aim: The relation of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with metabolic, psychiatric and endocrinologic disorder is well-known. Depressive mood and sexual dysfunction are frequently observed as renal functions deteriorate. We aimed to analyze the relationship of sexual dysfunction, depressive mood and life quality in patients with CKD at predialysis stage. Patients and methods: Fifty-three patients; 27 female and 26 male with CKD who had estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) between 15 and 90 mL/min and followed up in the Nephrology Department, Bursa Sevket Yılmaz Education and Research Hospital, were enrolled. Age-and sex-matched 20 female and 20 male healthy control subjects were assigned to the control group. Detailed medical and sexual history was obtained by using Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI), Erectile Function International Evaluation Form (IEFF), Short form (SF) 36 Form and Beck Depression Questionnaire (BDI). Biochemical and hormonal parameters including urea, creatinine, uric acid, sedimentation rate, c-reactive protein, total testosterone, DHEA-S, FSH, LH, TSH, estradiol and prolactin were analyzed. Findings: Depression was observed in 12 male (46%) and 14 female (51%) patients. The frequency of depression among male patients and control subjects was similar, however, significantly higher in female patients than female controls (p ¼ 0.036). Physical function score, physical role score and pain score in SF 36 of entire patients were significantly lower than controls (p ¼ 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.001, respectively). The frequency of depression was similar between patients and controls (p40.05). When SF 36 tests of male and female patients were compared, general health status, vitality and mental health status were significantly better in male patients (p ¼ 0.005, 0.016, 0.035, respectively). SF 36 scores of female patients were significantly lower than female controls (p ¼ 0.0001). The frequency of erectile dysfunction (ED) was similar between male patients (84%) and controls (75%) (p ¼ 0.62). On the other hand, sexual dysfunction was significantly higher in female patients when compared to female controls (92% vs. 30%; p ¼ 0.0001). Conclusion: We showed that sexual dysfunction and depression are more frequent among female patients with CKD at predialysis stage; however, it does not have significant impact on life quality. When life quality of female and male patients was compared, general health status, vitality and mental health status of female patients were poorer. We failed to demonstrate a relationship between sexual dysfunction and sex hormone level.

Background: Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses are the most common viruses that cause viral infections among the hemodialysis patients. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of HBV and HCV in predialytic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. Design: A cross-sectional study. Subjects: 171 consecutive predialytic CKD patients. Measurements: Third-generation micro-ELISA assay was used for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) and surface antibody (anti-HBs), secretory form of hepatitis B envelop antigen (HBeAg), antibody to secretory form of hepatitis B envelop antigen (anti-HBe), and ELISA for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Results: The main causes of CKD were 29.8% diabetic nephropathy, 19.9% chronic glomerulonephritis, 16.3% hypertensive nephrosclerosis, 14.0% unknown, 5.3% amyloidosis, 4.7% autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease, 4.1% chronic tubuluointerstitial nephritis, 3.5% malignancies, 1.7% benign prostatic hypertrophy, 0.6% Alport syndrome. The seroprevalence of hepatitis was: HBsAg 10.5%, anti-HBc 36.8%, anti-HBs 28.7%, HBeAg 5.3%, anti-HBe 32.7%, anti-HCV 7% and HBsAg+anti-HCV 0.6%. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of HBsAg and anti-HCV among predialytic CKD patients was similar to our patients in hemodialysis program.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and associated factors in nondiabetic, nonobese patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who had not yet received dialysis therapy. A group of 89 consecutive patients (42 male, 47 female) who were hospitalized in the Nephrology Clinic at Dicle University, had recently been diagnosed with CKD, and had not yet been treated with dialysis were enrolled in the study, as was a control group of 30 healthy volunteers. Diabetic and obese patients were excluded. IR was determined by the homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) formula. Blood samples were taken after an overnight fasting period to establish serum glucose, insulin, C-peptide, albumin, lipid profile, hematocrit, bicarbonate, and intact parathormone (iPTH) levels. The mean age of patients was 48.7+/-19.7 y (men, 49.5+/-21.5 y; women, 48.1+/-18.0 y); other mean values were as follows: glucose, 98.4+/-20.6 mg/dL; insulin, 16.7+/-16.2 microU/mL; HOMA-IR, 5.46+/-1.14; hemoglobin (Hgb), 8.7+/-1.6 g/dL; calcium-phosphorus product (Ca x P), 52.2+/-16.2 mg2/dL2; iPTH, 377.7+/-258.1 pg/mL, and bicarbonate (HCO3), 16.6+/-5.3 mEq/L. HOMA-IR was significantly higher in patients with stage 4 CKD than in controls (P<.001); serum levels of urea, creatinine clearance (CrCl), C-reactive protein (CRP), albumin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), Hgb, HCO3, Ca x P, and iPTH were found to be associated with HOMA-IR when a comparison was made with the control group. According to correlation analyses of possible risk factors in patients with IR, positive correlations with age, body mass index, CRP, Ca x P product, and iPTH, and negative correlations with albumin, CrCl, Hgb, and HDL-C were found. A high percentage of IR was found, and this percentage increased as glomerular filtration rate decreased in patients with stage 4 CKD. In addition, a correlation was found between IR and parameters such as age, body mass index, CRP, Ca x P, iPTH, albumin, CrCl, Hgb, and HDL-C.

No abstract

There was a positive correlation between low HOMA-IR value with target hct levels and administration of the rHuEpo. Because insulin resistance is an independent risk factor of cardiovascular mortality in ESRD patients, it was accepted that being able to correct the insulin resistance could be a novel therapeutic approach in this cohort.