| Theme |
Risk Factors and Outcome on Long-term Dialysis |
| Title |
Immunologic function and survival of hemodialysis patients |
| Author |
Yuko Shirota |
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine |
| Author |
Hiroshi Sato |
2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Tohoku University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Several studies have suggested various aspects of immune system malfunctioning in hemodialysis (HD) patients. In analyzing the cause of death in HD patients we see that, infections and malignancies account for almost a quarter of all deaths.
There are some reasons for the increased risk of infection and malignancy. One is that the number of older patients and diabetic patients is increasing. Additionally, the immune defects associated with chronic renal impairment and cytokinic induction by dialyzer membranes are related to immune malfunctions in HD patients. Although it is virtually impossible to normalize these patients' immune functions, we must find the main causes of immune system malfunctioning in each case, and try to eliminate them as well as possible. |