Dialysis-induced oxidative stress: Biological aspects, clinical consequences, and therapy

Oxidative stress, which results from a rupture in the natural balance betwe en pro- and antioxidant systems, is considered as a major factor in dialysi s-associated morbidity and mortality. Emerging pharmacologic and dialytic a ntioxidant therapeutic and dialysis strategies should enable us to reduce t he harmful consequences of oxidative stress in dialysis patients. Moreover, since there is increasing evidence of oxidative stress long before the ini tiation of maintenance dialysis, antioxidant therapeutic strategies should probably be developed very early in the course of renal failure.