Chronically uremic patients are characterized by a low-grade systemic inflammation that reflects the consequences of an unbalanced production of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and contributes to the progression of atherosclerotic vascular disease and malnutrition. The causes of inflammation in end-stage kidney disease have been studied in details. Nonetheless, the degree of activation of the systemic inflammatory response shows great interindividual variability that cannot be explained by renal disease or dialysis. The amount of cytokine that is produced on a definite stimulus varies among individuals. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter or coding regions of cytokine genes lead to high or low productions of these mediators and may genetically explain this heterogeneity. The "low-producer" genotypes for the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 are more permissive for a greater level of systemic inflammation and for increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients on hemodialysis. Potential pharmacologic and nutritional approaches for treatment of systemic inflammation have been identified in recent years. In addition, physical exercise training may reduce the systemic inflammatory response. Definition of the relationships between different cytokine gene polymorphisms and systemic inflammation in chronically uremic patients will improve efficacy of targeted anti-inflammatory treatments.
