The effects of hemodialysis on oxidative stress in patients with chronic kidney failure

Chronic kidney failure (CKF) is a significant public health concern with increasing prevalence and serious health consequences. It is commonly accompanied by comorbid conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus, and inadequate management of these conditions can accelerate the decline in kidney function. Consequently, many patients progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), requiring renal replacement therapy, among which hemodialysis (HD) is currently the most widely used method. This study aims to compare hemodialysis patients and healthy controls in terms of oxidative stress sensitivity by measuring serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (tGSH), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The study included 50 HD patients (23 females, 27 males; 54.79±13.40 years) and 40 healthy individuals (23 females, 17 males; 52.33±9.01 years) treated at Erzurum City Hospital. Serum levels of MDA and tGSH, along with the enzymatic activities of CAT, MPO, SOD, and GPx, were measured and compared between the two groups. Serum MDA levels, a marker of oxidative stress, were significantly higher in the HD group compared to the control group (p=0.001). Serum MPO activity was found to be lower in the hemodialysis patient group compared to the control group (p<0.0001). Similarly, SOD activity (p=0.002), tGSH levels (p<0.0001), and CAT activity (p<0.0001) were all reduced in the HD group compared to controls. The findings of this study indicate that oxidative stress is increased in HD patients, as evidenced by elevated MDA levels, while antioxidant defense parameters - including MPO, SOD, tGSH, CAT, and GPx - are significantly compromised compared to healthy individuals (p<0.05).