LIGHT--a new member of the TNF superfamily in the plasma, dialysate and urine of uremic patients; the impact of residual diuresis and presence of viral hepatitis.

OBJECTIVES

LIGHT is a cytokine involved in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in general population.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We determined the levels of LIGHT in the plasma, dialysate and urine of uremic patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and healthy controls.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the pre and post-HD plasma levels of LIGHT between HD patients with residual diuresis (HD-RD) and HD anuric group (HD-A) compared to controls. HD-RD patients had the lower LIGHT values in dialysate compared to HD-A patients (p<0.001), and higher urinary LIGHT excretion compared to controls (p<0.05). Moreover, the presence of RD and chronic viral hepatitis were independent factors influencing the levels of this cytokine in dialysate.

CONCLUSIONS

The plasma levels of LIGHT seem to be similar in HD patients and healthy subjects and were not affected by gender, age, the mean period of HD history, disease etiology, type of medication and type of using dialysis membrane.