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OBJECTIVE: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) takes part in innate immunity through opsonisation and complement activation. Deficiency of MBL is associated with some infections and autoimmune disorders. This study focused on functional MBL deficiency and its effects on dialysis-related peritonitis and catheter-related bacteremia in patients with end stage renal disease.
MATERIAL and METHODS: The study included 51 patients on chronic peritoneal dialysis (PD) program and 31 under maintenance hemodialysis (HD) who had tunneled/cuffed hemodialysis catheters (total 82). Serum MBL level measurements were performed by ELISA technique.
RESULTS: The mean value for serum MBL in patient groups of PD, HD, and healthy controls were 2536.5 ng/ml, 2088.7 ng/ml, 1924 ng/ml respectively. Difference of MBL level was not significant among groups. Serum MBL value was negatively correlated to the number of peritonitis episodes in PD group (p=0.019). Deficiency of MBL was not associated with high incidence of peritonitis. Surveillance of catheter associated blood stream infection for tunneled/cuffed hemodialysis catheters was 2.07 episodes/1000 catheter days. An association with MBL deficiency and incidence of catheter-related bacteremia was not observed.
CONCLUSION: Serum MBL value was negatively correlated to the number of peritonitis episodes but an expected association of MBL deficiency with high incidence of dialysis-related peritonitis and catheter-related bacteremia was not found. New studies with greater sample size might probably indicate the potential effect of MBL deficiency on dialysis-related peritonitis.