Background: Chronic inflammation is a main characteristic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is exacerbated in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Residual kidney function (RKF) plays a vital role in mitigating inflammation. We aimed to assess the utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as inflammatory markers in HD cases with and without RKF.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 CKD cases on HD, categorized into two groups based on RKF presence. NLR and IL-6 levels were measured and analyzed in relation to demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters. Statistical analysis included correlation studies and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Results: IL-6 levels and NLR were significantly increased in cases without RKF (p < 0.05). ROC analysis revealed IL-6 as a better marker for predicting loss of RKF compared to NLR. Correlations were observed between IL-6 levels, inflammatory markers, and renal parameters.
Conclusions: IL-6 and NLR are useful biomarkers for assessing inflammation in HD patients, with IL-6 demonstrating superior predictive value for RKF status. Monitoring these markers can provide insights into inflammation management in CKD.