Serum paraoxonase (PON1) concentration in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Cardiac death from atherosclerosis is common in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Although the enzymic activity of human serum paraoxonase (PON1) has been reported to be decreased in such patients, serum PON1 concentrations have not been measured. We investigated serum PON1 concentrations in 81 patients undergoing hemodialysis and 103 age-matched healthy subjects using an enzyme immunoassay. The PON1 concentration was significantly lower in the patient group than the control group (mean +/- SD: 6.78 +/- 3.56 vs 18.01 +/- 4.55 U/ml, respectively. p < 0.0001). There were no significant relationships between serum PON1 concentrations and the PON1 genetic polymorphisms, 55Leu/Met (L/M) and 192Gln/Arg (Q/R). The concentration adjusted for HDL-cholesterol or apolipoprotein A-I was also lower in the patient group. However, the specific activities (enzyme activity divided by the PON1 concentration) of paraoxonase and arylesterase were increased in the patient group compared with the control group. In the male patients, but not the female patients, PON1 concentrations were significantly lower in subjects with than without coronary heart disease (CHD) (mean +/- SD: 4.48 +/- 2.77 vs 7.34 +/- 3.22 U/ml, respectively. p < 0.01). In conclusion, the serum PON1 concentration in hemodialyzed patients was significantly decreased, resulting in an attenuation of PON1 enzymic activity. This decrease may be in part involved in the development of cardiovascular disease.