Effect of hemodialysis on total antioxidant status of chronic renal failure patients in government hospitals in Lagos Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Renal failure is accompanied by oxidative stress, which is caused by enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and impaired antioxidant defense. AIM To assess the effect of hemodialysis (by cellulose membrane dialyzer) on plasma total antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation of patients in chronic renal failure before and after dialysis. OBJECTIVE The finding would serve as guide to administration or otherwise of supplementary therapeutic antioxidant before or after hemodialysis. Also, it will assist in the choice of antioxidant impregnated over the conventional non-impregnated dialyzer membrane. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients (14 men and 11 women, aged 24-75 years; median 61) with end-stage renal failure who were undergoing hemodialysis for the first time were recruited. Plasma level of potassium (K+), sodium (Na+), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, total antioxidant status (TAS), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were measured, before and after hemodialysis. RESULTS The mean ± SD of plasma level of TAS (1.10 ± 0.3 mmol/L trolox Eq) for males and (1.09 ± 0.2 mmol/L trolox Eq) for females postdialysis were significantly reduced ( P < 0.05) in comparison with (1.72 ± 0.4 mmol/L trolox Eq) for males and (1.83 ± 0.7 mmol/L trolox Eq) for females predialysis, respectively. However, the mean ± SD plasma level of MDA (6.03 ± 0.4 nmol/ml) for males and (6.71 ± 0.7 nmol/ml) for females were significantly increased postdialysis ( P < 0.01) compared to predialysis (3.98 ± 0.8 nmol/ml) for males and (4.05 ± 0.9 nmol/ml) for females, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Based on the outcome of this study, it is suggested that antioxidant-impregnated dialysis membranes and/or exogenous supplementary antioxidant would be beneficial to patients with chronic renal failure. Removal of reactive oxygen species could improve the health and general quality of life of uremic patients.