Glycoxidation and inflammation in chronic haemodialysis patients

Uraemia and haemodialysis treatment are associated with microinflammation and oxidative as well as carbonyl stress, which result in enhanced formation of glycoxidation products. Although both glycoxidation and inflammation can contribute to severe vascular and cardiovascular complications, the role that these pathogenic mechanisms play in the complex response of the whole organism remains to be elucidated.

We performed a cross-sectional study in 34 clinically stable chronic haemodialysis patients and in 14 healthy controls while determining serum concentrations of pentosidine, fluorescent advanced glycation end-products (AGEs), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and acute phase reactants. We further assessed the relationship between these glycoxidation products and parameters of inflammation.

Glycoxidation products as well as certain acute phase reactants were elevated in haemodialysis patients. There were significant correlations between AOPPs and inflammatory parameters such as orosomucoid (0.39, P < 0.05), fibrinogen (0.49, P < 0.05) and pregnancy-associated protein A (PAPP-A; 0.46, P < 0.05), but no correlations between pentosidine or fluorescent AGEs and any of the inflammatory parameters.

Oxidative damage showed a closer relationship to inflammation than advanced glycation (glycoxidation). AOPPs may represent a superior acute biochemical marker, whereas AGEs may better describe chronic long-lasting damage.