Factors that influence serum hyaluronan levels in hemodialysis patients

Serum hyaluronan levels are increased in dialysis patients. We evaluated se veral factors that influence serum hyaluronan levels in 184 patients on chr onic hemodialysis (duration 2.3 +/- 2.3 [SD] years). The levels were higher than normal in the whole group and in a subgroup of 133 patients without c hronic infection, liver disease, or rheumatoid arthritis (215 +/- 19 and 20 5 +/- 22 mu g/L, respectively), There was a tendency for the levels to be h igher in a subgroup of patients with hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection, The re was no correlation between hyaluronan levels, alanine aminotransferase ( ALT), and duration or dose of dialysis. A weak but highly significant negat ive correlation between serum albumin levels and serum hyaluronan and ferri tin levels was seen. The data suggest that chronic inflammation may explain , at least in part, the increased hyaluronan levels found in chronic dialys is patients.