Relationship between some prognostic markers of HD patients and serum erythropoietin, insulin-like growth factor-1, leptin, parathormone and testosterone

Iseki et al. [1] have shown that serum levels of albumin (Alb), creatinine (Cr) and BMI are significant predictors of death in haemodialyzed patients (HD pts). In our study we decided to assess the relationship between the levels of Alb, Cr, BMI and substances which have a known metabolic effect on nutritional status in HD pts: endogenous erythropoietin (Epo), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), leptin (Lep), parathormone (PTH), and testosterone. The study was conducted in 53 (28M, 25F) stable HD pts. Serum levels of endogenous Epo and PTH were estimated by CLIA; IGF-1, Lep, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin were estimated by RIA. The multiple regression analysis was done between Alb, Cr, BMI and Epo, IGF-1, PTH and Lep for all HD pts together and free androgen index (FAI) for men and women separately. Correlations: the level of serum albumin did not correlate significantly with any of the measured substances. Serum creatinine level significantly correlated only with the level of IGF-1 (p=0.02), BMI was significantly correlated with serum endogenous Epo (p<0.01), leptin (p=0.004) and FAI (p<0.005) both in men and women. We concluded that the higher concentrations of endogenous Epo, IGF-1 and testosterone could be correlated with a better prognosis in HD patients.