Abstract: FR-PO1030
Cytokines and Memory Function in Patients on Hemodialysis: A Three-Year Follow-Up Cohort Study
Session Information
- Hemodialysis: Clinical Challenges, Patient-Centered Outcomes, and Quality of Life
October 23, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Dialysis
- 801 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis
Authors
- Wang, Lulu, Center for Kidney Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Gu, Xinyan, Center for Kidney Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Ye, Hong, Center for Kidney Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Dai, Chunsun, Center for Kidney Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Jiang, Lei, Center for Kidney Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Background
Memory impairment is an increasingly recognized cause of chronic disability in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Chronic microinflammation and abnormal cytokine levels are common in MHD patients, but their association with memory function remains unclear.
Methods
A total of 166 MHD patients were enrolled. Episodic memory, including immediate memory, short-delay recall, and long-delay recall, was assessed using the Auditory Verbal Learning Test-Huashan version (AVLT-H). Plasma levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α were measured by flow cytometry. The primary outcome was change in AVLT-H score over follow-up. Generalized estimating equation (GEE), principal component analysis (PCA), and generalized additive model (GAM) were used to analyze associations between cytokines and memory changes.
Results
Mean patient age was 49.9±11.2 years; 61.4% were male. Over a median follow-up of 1,136 days, 133 of 166 patients completed the study. AVLT-H scores improved from baseline to follow-up. Higher IL-4 and IL-8 levels were associated with greater improvement in immediate memory. PCA identified two principal components (PC1, PC2) with eigenvalues >1, cumulatively explaining 81.4% of data variation. PC1 represented systemic immune-inflammatory burden; PC2 represented Th2 vs. Th1 bias. GAM analysis showed no significant association between PC1 and memory function. PC2 was linearly associated with changes in immediate recall (P=0.033) but not with short- or long-delay recall. Notably, PC1 exhibited a significant U-shaped nonlinear association with short-delay recall (edf=3.56, P<0.05), while PC2 showed a significant linear negative association with short-delay recall (edf=1.00, P<0.05).
Conclusion
Th2/Th1 immune response bias specifically and nonlinearly affects memory function in MHD patients. The balance between inflammatory states is an independent predictor of memory function changes, suggesting that immune modulation may be relevant to cognitive outcomes in this population.
Funding
- Government Support – Non-U.S.