Abstract
In the course of chronic kidney disease (CKD) the intracellular erythrocyte calcium (Ca (i) (2+) ) level increases along with the progression of the disease. The decreased activity of Ca(2+)-Mg(2+)-dependent ATP-ase (PMCA) and its endogenous modulators calmodulin (CALM), calpain (CANP), and calpastatin (CAST) are all responsible for disturbed calcium metabolism. The aim of the study was to analyze the activity of PMCA, CALM, and the CANP-CAST system in the red blood cells (RBCs) of hemodialyzed (HD) children and to estimate the impact of a single HD session on the aforementioned disturbances. Eighteen patients on maintenance HD and 30 healthy subjects were included in the study. CALM, Ca (i) (2+) levels and basal PMCA (bPMCA), PMCA, CANP, and CAST activities were determined in RBCs before HD, after HD, and before the next HD session. Prior to the HD session, the level of Ca (i) (2+) and the CAST activity were significantly higher, whereas bPMCA, PMCA, and CANP activities and the CALM level were significantly lower than in controls. After the HD session, the Ca (i) (2+) concentration and the CAST activity significantly decreased compared with the basal values, whereas the other parameters significantly increased, although they did not reach the levels of healthy children. The values observed prior to both HD sessions were similar. Ca (i) (2+) homeostasis is severely disturbed in HD children, which may be caused by the reduction in the PMCA activity, CALM deficiency, and CANP-CAST system disturbances. A single HD session improved these disturbances but the effect is transient.