C- Reactive protein, cardiac troponin T and low albumin are predictors of mortality in hemodialysis patients.

Overall and cardiovascular mortality are significantly higher in hemodialysis patients with elevated C-reactive protein (CRP). The aim of study was to determine whether CRP, low albumin and troponin are markers of overall and cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients. 138 stable hemodialysis patients were divided into 2 groups n= 66 patients with coronary disease equivalent (known coronary or peripheral vascular disease or diabetes mellitus) and n= 72 patients without it. The two groups were then stratified by biomarkers [cardiac troponin T and albumin and highly sensitive CRP (hs-CRP)] and followed for 30 months. The primary outcome was all causes mortality. Patients with coronary disease equivalents had 3.5 fold greater annual mortality compared to controls (24%% vs 6.9%, P value = 0.005). Elevated troponin T had a further increase in the risk for death while hs-CRP and low albumin were not associated with risk of death In conclusion, circulating cardiac troponin-T was associated with poor prognosis especially in hemodialysis patients with coronary risk factors.