[Inflammatory markers in dialysis: epidemiological data]

Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein are frequently elevated in patients treated by dialysis. Serum concentration of these markers are much higher than in the general population, in which it has been clearly shown that chronic inflammation is associated to the occurrence of cardiovascular events. The mechanisms leading to chronic inflammation in dialysis patients may be related to chronic inflammation per se, or to dialysis. Furthermore, in these patients, raised inflammatory markers are associated to malnutrition and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The association of inflammation, malnutrition and atherosclerosis defines the so-called MIA syndrome.