The level of C-reactive protein in chronic hemodialysis patients: a comparative study between patients with noninfected catheters and arteriovenous fistula in two large Gulf hemodialysis centers.

Hemodialysis (HD) patients have greater morbidity and mortality when they have a central venous catheter (CVC) rather than an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) access. Inflammation associated with dialysis catheter use and resultant higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels could have an independent adverse effect on patient outcomes. In this prospective study, we investigated whether HD catheters induce inflammation independent of infection.