Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, Vol 13, Issue 90007 55-60, Copyright © 1998 by Oxford University Press
G Cappelli, A Di Felice, S Perrone, M Ballestri, D Bonucchi, A Savazzi, A Ciuffreda and E Lusvarghi
Monocyte activation with cytokine production is a well known event in the
course of dialysis treatment but its relation to symptoms of haemodialysis
or long-term pathological changes in chronic dialysis patients is still
under discussion. Cytokine production depends on the balance between
inducers and inhibitors while effects rely on the peculiar uraemic
environment and cell metabolism. 'Footprints' for monocyte activation have
been found, but no marker for clinical symptoms has been demonstrated
clearly. In this scenario it is almost impossible to link a specific
symptom to a definite stimulus such as dialysate microbial contamination or
membrane complement generation. The topics discussed in this paper include
cytokines synthesis modulation factors, levels in haemodialysis patients,
and results of finding markers of clinical relevance. Special attention is
paid to microbial contamination of dialysis fluid with analysis of cytokine
inducing substances in commercial sterile solutions. Data on cytokine
synthesis and activity in the aged are also discussed, with special regard
to the haemodialysis setting.
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
Which level of cytokine production is critical in haemodialysis?
Nephrology and Dialysis Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Via Del Pozzo, 71, 41100 Modena, Italy; Corresponding author
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