Background Inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Significant association between serum albumin-to-globulin (AG) ratio and inflammation led us to investigate the prognostic value of serum AG ratio for incident CKD. Methods The predictive value of serum AG ratio, white blood cell (WBC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) for CKD development was assessed in 8,057 non-CKD participants from a community-based, prospective cohort in Korea. Serum AG ratio was calculated by following equation: serum albumin (g/L)/[serum total protein (g/L)-serum albumin (g/L)]. Incident CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and/or proteinuria of more than 1+ on dipstick. Results Median serum AG ratio was 1.38 (interquartile range, 1.28-1.52). During a mean follow-up duration of 9.1±3.7 years, 1,732 participants (21.5%) developed CKD. In a multivariable Cox analysis, a low serum AG ratio was significantly associated with an increased risk of incident CKD (Q1, serum AG ratio <1.26: hazard ratio [HR] = 1.651, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.406-1.938, Q5 as reference; per 0.2 decrease, HR = 1.170, 95% CI = 1.109-1.234). Serum AG ratio was the only indicator to improve the predictability of CKD development (net reclassification index = 0.158, P <0.001; integrated discrimination improvement = 0.005, P <0.001), compared with WBC or CRP.

Background: Online hemodiafiltration (OL-HDF) offers considerable advantages in clearance of molecules of various sizes. However, evidence of clinical effects of OL-HDF is scarce in Korea. In this study, we investigated changes in laboratory values over more than 12 months after switching to OL-HDF. Methods: Adult patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing hemodialysis (HD) were prospectively enrolled in a K-cohort (CRIS no. KCT0003281) from 6 tertiary hospitals in South Korea. We recruited 435 patients, 339 of whom were on HD at enrollment. One hundred eighty-two patients were followed for more than 24 months. Among them, 44 were switched to OL-HDF for more than 12 months without conversion to HD. We used a paired t test to compare baseline and 24-month follow-up results. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 61.2 ± 12.2 years, and 62.6% were male. The baseline hemoglobin level was not significantly different between HD and OL-HDF group (10.61 ± 1.15 vs. 10.46 ± 1.03 g/dL, P = 0.437). However, the baseline serum protein and albumin levels were significantly lower in the OL-HDF group (6.82 ± 0.49 vs. 6.59 ± 0.48 g/dL, P = 0.006; 3.93 ± 0.28 vs. 3.73 ± 0.29 g/dL, P < 0.001). In patients switched to OL-HDF, levels of hemoglobin and serum albumin significantly increased (10.46 ± 1.03 vs. 11.08 ± 0.82 g/dL, P = 0.001; 3.73 ± 0.29 vs.