International Journal of Research and Review DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20210752 Vol.8; Issue: 7; July 2021 Website: www.ijrrjournal.com Original Research Article E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 International Journal of Research and Review (ijrrjournal.com) 369 Vol.8; Issue: 7; July 2021 Correlation of Albumin Serum Levels as Inflammation Marker with Red Blood Cell Distribution Width Value in Regular Hemodialysis Patients at H. Adam Malik General Hospital Medan Soraya Mourina Hutasuhut 1 , Alwi Thamrin Nasution 2 , M. Feldy Gazaly Nasution 2 1 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia 2 Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Medan, Indonesia Corresponding Author: Soraya Mourina Hutasuhut ABSTRACT Background: One of the modalities of renal replacement therapy in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is hemodialysis (HD). The role of inflammation in HD patients by uremic toxins and dialysis can be assessed by the marker of serum albumin. This inflammation also causes dysregulation of the hormone erythropoietin which results in increased variability or heterogeneity of red blood cell distribution width (RDW). Previous studies have revealed an association between RDW and albumin levels in regular HD patients which leads to increased patient morbidity and mortality. This study aims to determine the relationship between albumin serum levels and RDW as a marker of inflammation in regular HD patients. Method: This was a cross sectional study design, conducted in June to August 2020 at the HD unit of Haji Adam Malik General Hospital in Medan. Twenty subjects were included. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation test and T-test to find the correlation between albumin serum levels and RDW, and other variables. Results: Of the 20 subjects taken based on consecutive sampling, the majority was male, 13 people (65%), mean age was 50.30 ± 12.57 years with the most comorbid type 2 diabetes mellitus for 14 people (70%). The mean serum albumin level was 3.2 ± 0.65 mg/dl. The mean RDW value was 15.93 ± 1.87%. This study showed that there was a significant relationship between serum albumin levels and RDW values (r = - 0.687; p = 0.001). RDW values were also significantly associated with hemoglobin levels (r = 0.497; p = 0.026) and creatinine (r= 0.519; p= 0.019). Conclusion: Albumin, hemoglobin, and creatinine levels were significantly associated with RDW values in regular HD patients. Keywords: inflammation, albumin, regular hemodialysis, RDW INTRODUCTION The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its risk factors is increasing worldwide, and is the biggest challenge for health systems, especially in low and middle-income countries. [1] CKD is a global health burden with high costs and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. [2] Based on the Indonesian Renal Registry, in 2017, it was reported that 0.03% of the Indonesian population underwent hemodialysis. [3] Red cell distribution width (RDW) may be increased because of a deficit in erythropoiesis or an increase in red cell destruction. RDW increased significantly in patients with CKD grades 1 to 5 where the higher the RDW, the higher the staging (Lu et al, 2017). [4] In recent years, RDW is the most recent predictor of mortality for various populations. Although the