Serum potassium, albumin and vitamin B12 as potential oxidative stress markers of fungal peritonitis

Background Biomarkers of oxidative stress (OS) have been poorly explored in fungal peritonitis (FP). Potassium is a regulator of pro-oxidants and antioxidants. Albumin and vitamin B-12 (B-12) are vital antioxidant agents in the circulatory system. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidative role of serum potassium, albumin and B-12 in FP. Methods Serum levels of potassium, albumin and B-12 were retrospectively analyzed in 21 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of FP, 105 bacterial peritonitis (BP) patients and 210 patients receiving peritoneal dialysis without peritonitis. Results Serum levels of potassium, albumin and B-12 were lower in FP patients than in BP patients. Serum potassium concentration was statistically related to albumin concentration in peritonitis patients. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analysis suggested that serum level of potassium and albumin were independent risk factors of FP when compared with BP. Lower potassium and B-12 levels were independently associated with higher rates of technique failure in peritonitis. Conclusion These findings suggest lower serum potassium, albumin and B-12 as potential oxidative stress markers of FP and raise the hypothesis that an increased level of OS could contribute to FP. KEY MESSAGES FP remains a serious complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD), with higher morbidity (1-23.8%) and mortality (2-25%), and oxidative stress plays a role in it. Our study suggested serum potassium, albumin and vitamin B-12 as potential oxidative stress markers of fungal peritonitis.

Automated summary

This study found that serum potassium, albumin, and vitamin B-12 levels were lower in patients with fungal peritonitis compared to bacterial peritonitis patients. Additionally, lower levels of potassium and B-12 were independently associated with higher rates of technique failure in peritonitis cases. These findings suggest that serum potassium, albumin, and B-12 may serve as potential oxidative stress markers for fungal peritonitis.