Background: Recent observation revealed that serum albumin plays an important role in the host defense mechanism as it is one of the important antioxidants. This study was conducted to investigate whether hypoalbuminemia contributes to a decreased biological antioxidant potentials (BAP) in idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS).
Methods: Fifty three heparinised blood samples were obtained from 8 patients with INS (median 13.5 years). Eighteen samples from 6 patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP median 7 years) were served as control. Intravenous human albumin preparation was also applied for comparison. Measurement of BAP in blood and human albumin preparation was determined by a newly developed devise called FRAS4(®). Comparison among groups and relationships between BAP and albumin concentrations or c-reactive protein (CRP) were studied by Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman rank correlation test, respectively.
Results: Serum levels of BAP was significantly lower in patients with nephrotic relapse than those in patients with nephrotic remission or HSP. BAP correlated well with serum albumin levels. Positive relationship was also found between concentration of albumin in human preparation and BAP. Weakly positive CRP sera disclosed both hypoalbuminemia and low BAP.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that decreased antioxidant potentials caused by hypoalbuminemia in INS may contribute to an aberrant immunity.