Oxidative stress is one of the proposed mechanisms to explain renal function impairment in chronic renal failure (CRF). There is growing evidence supporting that oxidative balance is disturbed due to either overproduction of free radicals or insufficient antioxidant defense system in patients with end stage renal disease. Moreover, dialysis processes is accepted as a model for oxidative stress. In recent years, neutrophil-myeloperoxidase-hypochlorous acid mediated reactions suggest, as the main source of oxidative stress seen in CRF and these reactions seem directly to be related to inflammation.
In the present review, the occurrence of oxidative stress and especially the oxidative modification mechanisms of proteins as well as oxidation products used as biomarkers are surveyed in CRF.