Serum potassium, albumin and vitamin B(12) 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) 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.