CLINICAL BIOCHEMISTRY DATABASE ANALYSIS: A RESTRICTED DIALYSIS COHORT /

Abstract

Summary Background: A retrospective study was undertaken to inves- tigate the biochemistry data of a restricted cohort of dialysis- related arthropathy patients. The aim of our study was to characterize this specific cohort of dialysis patients using a clinical chemistry database analysis. Methods: An elaboration of more than 160,000 items of biochemical data, collected from 2001 to 20|11, was made of 50 patients, 25 with dialysis-related arthropathy and 25 patients asymptomatic for arthropathy. A Student's t-test was applied, considering a P-value less than 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: Significant and relevant unexpected biochemical dif- ferences were found between the two groups of patients. The serum level of p2-microglobulin was similar, while fer- ritin values were significantly higher in symptomatic patients. We excluded the possibility that the ferritin difference between the two groups was due to different iron storage and to an inflammatory profile. Conclusions: The correct use of a biochemical database could permit to identify significant values which must be cor- related with clinical data, but which could be the first step to a wider research.