The relationship between the antioxidant system, oxidative stress and dialysis-related amyloidosis in hemodialysis patients.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with several complications that are partly due to excess amounts of reactive oxygen species and/or decreased antioxidant activity. Dialysis-related amyloidosis (DRA) has also been linked to increased oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between the antioxidant system, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), various biochemical parameters and shoulder amyloidosis, in hemodialysis patients. We studied 107 non-diabetic chronic dialysis patients. The SOD levels correlated with right and left biceps tendon thickness (r = -0.219, P = 0.048 and r = -0.236, P = 0.031, respectively), MDA (r = -0.429, P = 0.000) and albumin levels (r = -0.319, P = 0.001). MDA levels correlated with right and left biceps thickness (r = 0.291, P = 0.006 and r = 0.337, P = 0.001, respectively) and β2 microglobulin levels (r = 0.455, P = 0.000). We also identified the statistically significant relationships between MDA levels and supraspinatus tendon thickening (greater than 7 mm) and right and left biceps tendon thickness (P = 0.022, P = 0.040 and P = 0.005, respectively). Our data suggest the complex relationship between antioxidants and oxidative stress and further support the roles of oxidative stress and antioxidants in DRA.