Chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40) is a glycoprotein associated with inflammation and tissue remodeling that has recently been used as a marker of inflammation in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, we aimed to determine whether YKL-40 has potential to serve as a nutritional parameter in Japanese HD patients. The serum YKL-40 concentration, hematological parameters, inflammatory marker levels, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory values were measured in 88 patients receiving HD. The geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) was used as a nutritional assessment tool. 45.4% of patients were malnourished. YKL-40 correlated positively with age, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GTP) levels, but not with nutritional status, and correlated inversely with ankle brachial index score, a predictor of atherosclerosis. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis confirmed that γ-GTP, GNRI and age correlated with YKL-40. YKL-40 elevation was associated with γ-GTP, GNRI and age in HD patients. J. Med. Invest. 69 : 101-106, February, 2022.
Keywords: YKL-40; hemodialysis; inflammation; malnutrition; γ-GTP.