Hemodialysis patients: inflammatory status and lean body mass

Aims: To investigate the relationship of the inflammatory status with the lean body mass in hemodialysis patients. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study included patients on hemodialysis for at least three months. The body composition analysis was performed by segmental multi-frequency bioimpedance (InBody 520 r). The nutritional status associated with inflammation was evaluated using the instrument that computes the Malnutrition-Inflammation Score. Results: The sample included 59 subjects, 30 were female. The mean age was 58.7 +/- 14.4 years, the median time on dialysis was 24 (9-49) months, the mean estimated dry weight was 67.0 +/- 14.7 kg and mean lean body mass was 29.7 +/- 5.5 kg. The median serum level of ultrasensitive C-reactive protein was 8.6 (3.9 to 18.0) mg/L and above the normal limit (<= 5.0 mg/L), suggesting the presence of inflammation. The malnutrition-inflammation score had a median of 4 (2-6). There was a significant correlation between the score malnutrition-inflammation and age (r(s)=0.350, p less than 0.01) and with time on dialysis: (r(s)=0.320, pless than 0.05). Inflammation assessed by the level of ultrasensitive C-reactive protein was significantly associated with lean body mass (r(s)=-0.283, p less than 0.05). Conclusions: The increased time on dialysis and increased age were associated with poorer nutritional status. In this population, apparently the lower lean body mass the higher level of ultrasensitive C-reactive protein, suggesting a possible association between inflammation and lean body mass in these patients.