Potential value of CML-Hb in predicting the progression of bone cysts in dialysis-related amyloidosis

Background/Aim: Carboxymethyl lysine is one of the common advanced glycatio n end products in vivo. In a previous report, we were the first to describe the increase of circulating carboxymethyllysine-hemoglobin (CML-Hb) levels in hemodialysis patients, particularly in patients with dialysis-related a myloidosis (DRA). The aim of this study was to investigate the predictive v alue of CML-Hb in the progression of DRA using computed tomography images o f 2-year or 3-year follow-up periods of patients with amyloid bone cysts at the hip joint. Methods: Circulating CML-Hb levels were measured as previou sly reported, and computed tomography scanning was conducted from 1996 to 1 998 or 1999 in 57 hemodialysis patients whose original renal disease had be en confirmed to be nondiabetic. Patients who showed a new growth of cysts o r a growth rate of 30% or more were classified as progressive cases, while the other patients were classified as nonprogressive cases. Results: (1) Th e circulating CML-Hb levels showed a strong correlation with the DRA score by multiple regression analysis, and (2) patients with progression of amylo id cysts showed a significantly higher circulating CML-Hb level than patien ts without progression. Conclusion: Based upon these results, we conclude t hat measurement of circulating CML-Hb levels has a potential value in both judgment of the clinical state and prediction of progression of DRA in hemo dialysis patients. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.