The longitudinal effects of endotoxemia in haemodialysis patients

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  The longitudinal effects of endotoxemia in haemodialysis patients - pilot study

• IRAS ID

  177197

• Contact name

  Wong Jonathan

• Sponsor organisation

  East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 6 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Unexplained persistent inflammation is a common problem seen in patients undergoing haemodialysis. Persistent inflammation is associated with poor prognosis and the underlying cause is not well understood but blood endotoxins may be responsible. Endotoxemia has been reported in haemodialysis patients but published blood endotoxin levels vary significantly between studies. This is likely due to methodological differences used between studies and no endotoxin detection assay has been validated for use in patients with endstage kidney disease. We recently determined that the kinetic turbidimetric Limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay is a valid tool to detect endotoxin in uraemic plasma. We will use this assay to determine the relationship between endotoxemia and unexplained inflammation in the haemodialysis population. We will investigate whether initiation onto haemodialysis increases blood endotoxin levels and if endotoxemia is related to dialysis related symptoms and morbidity.

• REC name

  London - Hampstead Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  15/LO/0467

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 Mar 2015

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion