Purpose: Patients with end stage renal failure (ESRD) report low quality of life and inflammation may be one of the contributing factors. We studied if the hemodialysis induced inflammation correlates with the patients quality of life.
Methods: Study was performed in 76 (35 males and 41 females) ESRD patients treated with hemodialysis. Effect of one dialysis session on blood concentration of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF), Interleukin 6 (IL6) and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1) was studied. Results were correlated with answers given by patients to a short questionnaire composed of questions from Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQoL-SF) questionnaire.
Results: Hemodialysis induced increase of serum level of HGF (+117%) and IL-6 (+17%). Declared by patients health status correlated with their age, GFR, kt/V and hemodialysis induced change in serum IL6 and HGF level (R(2) = 0469, P < 0.001). Physical activity correlated with age, serum IL-6 and hemodialysis induced change in serum HGF and VEGF (R(2) = 0.362, P < 0.001). Presence of social/mental problems during previous 4 weeks correlated with age, serum HGF and hemodialysis induced changes in serum HGF and VEGF levels (R(2) = 0.333, P < 0.001). Interference of the kidney disease with daily life activities correlated with age, serum VEGF and hemodialysis induced change in serum HGF and IL6 levels (R(2) = 0.422, P < 0.001).
Conclusion: Inflammation correlates with reduced quality of life in ESRD. Low hemodialysis-induced release of the anti-inflammatory cytokine HGF correlates with impaired quality of life in that group of patients.
Keywords: Uremia-hemodialysis; hepatocyte growth factor; inflammation; quality of life.