Prealbumin-retinol-binding-protein-retinol complex in hemodialysis patients.

In hemodialysis (HD) patients, serum prealbumin (TBPA) is correlated to nutritional status and outcome despite usually elevated serum levels. The purpose of this work was to study the role of TBPA-retinol-binding-protein (RBP)-retinol complex changes in the elevation of serum TBPA in HD patients. Serum TBPA, RBP, and retinol were measured in 30 otherwise healthy HD patients (15 men, 15 women) and in 30 healthy volunteers (15 men, 15 women). The dependence of TBPA on RBP was studied by covariance and regression methods. TBPA (p less than 0.05), RBP (p less than 0.01), and retinol (p less than 0.05) were elevated in HD patients. Elevated TBPA was associated with a decrease of TBPA free from RBP (p less than 0.01). The decrease of free TBPA may explain the reduction of TBPA breakdown and its elevation in HD patients.