Predicting 3‐year mortality based on the tumor necrosis factor alpha concentration in low‐flux hemodialysis patients

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) is an inflammatory cytokine produced during acute inflammation. Few studies have evaluated the association between serum TNF‐α and its receptors and their clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients. However, a study assessing patients using a low‐flux dialyzer reuse has not been conducted yet. The serum TNF‐α concentrations of 319 prevalent hemodialysis patients (mean age, 45 ± 15 years; median duration of hemodialysis, 48 [interquartile range, 26‐79] months; 185 males and 134 females) was examined to predict their 3‐year mortality. The patients were divided into tertiles according to their serum TNF‐α concentrations: T1 (n = 106; serum TNF‐α concentration,