Strong Correlation of B₂-Microglobulin (B₂-m) with Procalcitonin (PCT) in the Serum of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Role for Infections in the Dialysis-Related Amyloidosis?

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline patient's characteristics and laboratory assessments

Parameters	Median	IQR
Age (yrs)	66	56–75
Sex (male)^†	43(59)	—
Time on dialysis (months)	32	14–57
Weight (kg)	67.5	58–80
Urea (mg/dL)	178.5	153–205
Creatinine (mg/dL)	10.2	8.6–11.8
Hematocrit (%)	35.6	33.3–38.5
WBC (/mm^3)	7235	5700–8220
ESR (mm/h)	50	27–70
Total proteins (g/dL)	6.8	6.6–7.2
Serum albumin (g/dL)	3.4	3.3–3.6

Values at two and four months did not differ statistically significant from corresponding ones at baseline.

*IQR = interquartile range.

^†presented as N (%).

Table 2 Levels of B2-m, PCT and CRP at baseline T(0), two months T(2), and four months T(4)

		Time (months)			p
		T(0)	T(2)	T(4)
B2-m (mg/l)	Median	26.1	249	27	0.43
	IQR^†	21.8–29.8	19.2–29	21.6–41
PCT (ng/ml)	Median	0.9	0.9	0.9	0.07
	IQR^†	0.6–1.3	0.7–1.4	0.5–1.5
CRP (mg/l)	Median	5.06	8	5.27	0.63
	IQR^†	2.5–12	1.8–13	2.7–21

^*Friedman test.

^†IQR = interquartile range.

Figure 1. Comparison (Mann-Whitney U test) of B₂-m levels in two groups of PCT (cut-off value 1.5 ng/mL) at baseline.

Figure 2. Comparison (Mann-Whitney U test) of B₂-m levels in two groups of CRP (cut-off value 5 mg/L) at baseline.