Quantitative Changes In Plasma Amino-Acids In Patients With Renal-Disease

The concentration of amino acids in fasting plasma of 8 normal individuals and 17 patients with renal disease has been measured using a single-column amino acid analyser. The results have shown that there is an abnormally low concentration of essential amino acids and a high phenylalanine/tyrosine ratio in the renal disease patients. The causes of this essential amino acid depletion, including amino acid losses during intermittent haemodialysis therapy, have been investigated; the feasibility of correcting the depletion by intravenous amino acid therapy is discussed.