Abnormalities of Serum Protein Fractions in Hemodialysis Patients with Chronic Renal Failure at Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Abstract

Introduction: The main objective of this study was to investigate abnormalities of serum protein fractions in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 48 hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) recruited at the Yalgado Ouedraogo Teaching Hospital (YO-TH), and 48 controls declared fit to donate blood by the Regional Blood Transfusion Center (RBTC) of Ouagadougou. Urea, creatinine, uric acid, and serum proteins were measured on the ARCHITECT C4000 equipment (ABOTT®), while the separating of the different protein fractions was performed on the Helena SAS 3 & 4 automated system. Results: A total of 96 individuals were included in the study. Protein levels were on average higher in controls (75.19 ± 6.56 g/L) than in hemodialysis patients (71.44 ± 12.33 g/L). Low blood albumin was significantly associated with the CRF hemodialysis groups compared to controls (p < 0.000). In terms of globin fractions, a significant increase in alpha-globulin 1, alpha-globulin 2 and gamma-globulin was present in the CRF hemodialysis group compared to controls (p < 0.000); while beta-globulin was on average lower in the CRF hemodialysis group compared to controls without significant difference (p = 0.509). Analysis of the electrophoretic profiles identified 57.17% polyclonal hypergammaglobulinaemia, 33.33% inflammatory profile, 10.42% undernutrition profile and 2.08% nephrotic syndrome in the CRF hemodialysis group. Conclusion: Serum protein electrophoresis is rapidly feasible and low cost. In hemodialysis CKD patients, it can be used to guide therapeutic management and predict morbidity and mortality related to variations in the various protein fractions.