PP.11.25

Abstract

Objective: Despite advances in the technology of dialysis, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are on hemodialysis therapy are still very high. Recent clinical studies have demonstrated a significant correlation between leptin levels and hypertension, hyperlipidemia, perturbed fibrinolysis and chronic inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of changes in serum leptin concentrations and relationship of leptin and traditional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with varying duration of hemodialysis therapy. Design and method: The cross sectional study included 60 patients with end stage renal disease, of both sexes, divided into two equal groups (n = 30) based on the duration of hemodialysis treatment: A group of subjects who are on hemodialysis therapy between three months and five years, and group of subjects who are on hemodialysis therapy five and more than five years. The control group (n = 30) consisted of apparently healthy subjects, with no subjective and objective indicators of chronic renal disease. The serum leptin concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Serum leptin levels in patients in Group under 5 years was significantly higher from leptin concentrations in serum of patients in Group eqally and more then 5 years and of serum leptin concentrations in the control group. Statistically significant positive correlation was found between serum leptin levels and body mass index (BMI) in subjects of Group eqally and more then 5 years and in the control group. There was no significant correlation between serum leptin levels and C – reactive protein (CRP) in any of the groups of patients. Results showed that the serum leptin value had a poor diagnostic accuracy in distinguish hemodialysis patients from healthy control, as well as, hemodialysis patients at different length of dialysis therapy. Conclusions: In this population of stable HD patients, obtained results do not support the hypothesis that serum leptin and relationship between leptin and traditional cardiovascular risk factors can be used as an independent marker to distinguish between hemodialysis patients than healthy subjects, nor in differentiating hemodialysis patients at different length of dialysis therapy.