Blood spexin level investigations in patients who get diagnosed with end-stage renal disease

Spexin is a neuropeptide that plays a role to control food intake, appetite, redressing of body weight and energy balance. In patients who get diagnosed with end stage renal disease (ESRD), there is no study on serum spexin level. The aim of our study was to investigate the relation between serum spexin and nutritional parameters in ESRD patients. In the study, 30 hemodialysis patients (HD) and as control group, 30 healthy individuals were included. Serum spexin levels of the patients were studied before and after HD. To assess the nutritional conditions and body compositions of the patients, mini nutritional assessment test (MNA) and with Tanita 330 sc device, bioelectric impedence analysis (BIA) was carried out. The relation of acquired demographic and laboratuary datas to serum spexin level was assessed. In the making of statistical analysis, SPSS 22 pocket program was used. Significance level was taken as p<0,05. Serum spexin level was detected significantly higher in ESRD group compared to healthy control group (p<0,001). Compared to pre-HD serum spexin level, post-HD serum spexin level was detected significantly lower (p<0,001). According to MNA test, when compared well-nutritioned patients to malnutritioned ones, body mass index (BMI) levels of malnutritioned patients were lower, but their serum spexin levels were significantly higher (p<0,001). There was a negative correlation between BMI, fat percentage, fat mass and visceral fat percentage. As a result, serum spexin level was significantly higher in ESRD patients. In malnutritioned HD patients, serum spexin level was higher compared to well-nutritioned patients. Our findings suggest that parameter which reflect renal functions and nutritional conditions can be a determinant in terms of serum spexin level. Keywords: end stage renal disease, spexin, neuropeptide Q, malnutrition, hemodialysis