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. 2008 Oct;13(7):593-600.
doi: 10.1111/j.1440-1797.2008.01021.x. Epub 2008 Sep 25.

Associations of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A with mortality in haemodialysis patients

James B Wetmore  1 , David H Lovett, Adriana M Hung, Galen Cook-Wiens, Jonathan D Mahnken, Saunak Sen, Kirsten L Johansen
Affiliations

Associations of interleukin-6, C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A with mortality in haemodialysis patients

James B Wetmore et al. Nephrology (Carlton). 2008 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) manifest a chronic inflammatory state. Serum albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and serum amyloid A (SAA) have been associated with mortality in ESRD, although reports vary as to whether they are true independent markers of mortality. We undertook a prospective study to determine whether these markers could predict mortality in ESRD.

Methods: A cohort of individuals on haemodialysis was followed prospectively for a mean of 2.1 years. Albumin, CRP, IL-6 and SAA were drawn at enrollment. Association between mortality and serum markers was assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. A trend analysis was undertaken to establish the functional form of the association between serum markers and outcome.

Results: After multivariable adjustment, IL-6 was most strongly associated with mortality, followed closely by albumin (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.0005, respectively). CRP was marginally associated with mortality (P = 0.046), and SAA was not independently associated with mortality. In the final model adjusting for the effects of both IL-6 and albumin simultaneously, both markers remained associated with mortality (P = 0.003 and P = 0.011).

Conclusion: IL-6 had the strongest independent association with mortality, followed closely by albumin. CRP and SAA were not associated with mortality when measured at single time points. Increasing levels of IL-6 and decreasing levels of albumin were associated with increased mortality. IL-6 and albumin may be capturing different aspects of the inflammatory burden observed in haemodialysis patients.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Kaplan–Meier plots of survival by quartile of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and albumin. Asterisks denote log-rank test for trend.
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