Interleukin-16 is increased in dialysis patients but is not a cardiovascular risk factor.

Oxalate, a uremic toxin that accumulates in dialysis patients, is associated with cardiovascular disease. As oxalate crystals can activate immune cells, we tested the hypothesis that plasma oxalate would be associated with cytokine concentrations and cardiovascular outcomes in dialysis patients. In a cohort of 104 US patients with kidney failure requiring dialysis (cohort 1), we measured 21 inflammatory markers.