[Inflammatory markers in dialysis: epidemiological data].

Inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein are frequently elevated in patients treated by dialysis. Serum concentration of these markers are much higher than in the general population, in which it has been clearly shown that chronic inflammation is associated to the occurrence of cardiovascular events. The mechanisms leading to chronic inflammation in dialysis patients may be related to chronic inflammation per se, or to dialysis.

[Does nutrition affect the prognosis of aged hemodialysis patients?].

Most authors agree that the prevalence of malnutrition is increased in patients treated by dialysis, particularly in the elderly. Malnutrition is a powerful risk factor for mortality; however, the strong association between nutritional status and mortality does not mean a causal relationship. It has been proposed that nutritional disorders that may occur in dialysis patients are mainly related to two different mechanisms.