Correlation of Serum Asprosin Levels With Normalized Protein Catabolic Rate in Patients Receiving Peritoneal Dialysis Treatment

Background Peritoneal dialysis patients are malnourished due to loss of protein in the dialysate and inadequate dialysis, although they take additional calories every day during treatment. Many parameters are used to assess nutritional status, with normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) being one of the most common. Asprosin, a novel adipokine secreted by adipose tissue, peaks during fasting and induces hepatic glucose release through the activation of the G-protein-cAMP-PKA pathway, which has been indicated to have a curative effect on chronic inflammation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between asprosin levels and nutritional parameters in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis treatment as well as to investigate the applicability of more practical tests. Methodology A total of 70 peritoneal dialysis patients, 35 female (59%) and 24 male (41%), were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 53 ± 14 years (range = 18-80 years), and the median peritoneal dialysis duration was 31.5 months (range = 20-56.2 months). The most common etiologic cause was hypertension (37%). Patients over 18 years of age who had been receiving peritoneal dialysis treatment for at least 24 months were included in the study. The correlation between patients’ nPCR levels and serum asprosin, body mass index, and lipids was evaluated. Results The correlation between the level of nPCR and the serum asprosin level, body mass index, and lipids was evaluated. Patients with nPCR <0.815 were considered malnourished, and factors affecting malnutrition were determined by univariate analysis. Among the factors affecting malnutrition according to univariate analysis, those with p-value <0.05 were analyzed by multivariate analysis. Low asprosin level was one of the independent factors affecting malnutrition in patients (Exp(B) = 0.944, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.896-0.994). Other independent factors affecting malnutrition were Kt/V (Exp(B) = 0.018, 95% CI = 0.001-0.550) and residual renal function (Exp(B) = -0.004, 95% CI = 0.993-0.999). Conclusions There is a need for more accessible tests and reliable parameters to evaluate dialysis and nutritional deficiency in peritoneal dialysis patients. One possible hormone that could serve as a guide is asprosin.