Biochemical markers: Clinical aspects
Abstract Protein-calorie malnutrition is an important determinant of morbidity and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease. Several biochemical indices are proposed as markers of nutritional status in this patient population. These include relatively simple biochemical measures such as serum albumin, creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen, as well as more complex and not readily available parameters, such as transferrin, prealbumin, and insulin-like growth factor 1. However, none of these parameters alone has been shown to be the optimal indicator of nutritional status of patients with end-stage renal disease. Specifically, the biochemical markers utilized for nutritional purposes are influenced by many non-nutritional factors. Therefore, an appropriate assessment of nutritional status should include simultaneous measurements of several markers, continuous evaluation of these markers, and a good clinical judgement.