C-reactive protein (CRP) and risk factors of atherosclerosis in chronic hemodialysis patients

In hemodialysis (HD) patients, elevated serum C-rective protein (CRP) levels have significant associations with hypoalbuminemia, malnutrition, morbidity and mortality, and suggested to predictive markers of atherosclerosis. In this study, we assessed clinical significance of CRP especially the relationship between the serum CRP level and risk factors of atherosclerosis in HD outpatients without diabetes mellitus. We measured serum CRP levels and other parameters in 233 HD patients without acute infection in June 2000. Patients were divided into two groups based on serum CRP levels (high CRP group: CRP≥0.3mg/dL, and low CRP group: CRP