The effects of hemodialysis period on the levels of blood trace elements

As a treatment method of chronic renal failure (CRF), hemodialysis (HD) causesaltering of inorganic components containing trace elements. It was shown thatdecreasement of renal function also accompanies with insufficiency of antioxidantsystems and/or increasement of free oxygene radicals.In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of HD process onto traceelement levels and oxidative stress markers.We included 111 CRF patients who takes HD treatment tree times a week.(60male, 51 female). There were 14 female and 10 male, total 24 healthy people in ourcontrol group. Patients were divided into four groups according to HD duration. Firstgroup were getting 0-2 years of HD, second were 3-5 years, third group were getting6-8 years or HD treatment, the last group were getting 9-11 years of HD. Plasmamalondialdehydet (MDA), protein carbonyls and total SH levels, zinc (Zn), copper(Cu) and magnesium (Mg) levels and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD)activity were measured from blood taken from patients before HD.In our study, SH levels and SOD activities of all groups were significantlylower than those of control group (p<0.001). All groups had significantly higherplasma MDA levels than control (p<0.001). While there was no significantdifference of SH levels and SOD activities between groups, increasing periods of HDwere associated with increases in MDA. MDA levels of third and fourth groups weresignificantly higher than both first and second group patients (p<0.05, p<0.001).There was no significant difference of Zn, Cu and Mg levels and protein carbonyllevels in and between all groups.As a result, prolonged exposure to HD can cause increasement of oxidativedamage but take no effect on trace element concentration.Keywords: Antioxidants, hemodialysis, oxidative stres, trace elements