[Middle-molecule uremic toxins: A renewed interest]

Abstract

Cardiovascular mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease remains a major problem. The uremic toxins among which the molecules of middle molecular weight are counted contribute significantly to this high mortality, alongside the traditional risk factors. They generate and maintain a chronic inflammatory state called low-level chronic inflammatory state. A growing interest in these molecules has been noted for some years and the uremic toxins associated with this cardiovascular mortality are currently identified: FGF23, cytokines, pentraxin-3 and recently light chains. The existence of an interaction between uremic toxins, inflammation and/or oxidative stress and cardiovascular mortality is well reported in the various epidemiological studies. While the use of anti-oxidative therapies and/or antibodies against uremic toxins or their site of action have not yet yielded a real benefit, hopes are turning to the use of new hemodialysis membranes medium cut-off (MCO), which have the advantage of purifying the uremic toxin middle molecules without a significant loss of albumin. However, additional works are needed to demonstrate the use of these membranes will lead to modulate the morbi-mortality in the dialysis patients.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Dialyse; Dialysis membranes; Maladie rénale chronique; Membranes d’hémodialyse; Middle molecules; Molécules de poids moléculaire moyen; Toxines urémiques; Uremic toxins.