FREE AMINO ACIDS IN SERUM OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC RENAL INSUFFICIENCY

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of free amino acids in serum of patients with chronic renal insufficiency was performed using paper chromatography. No true qualitative difference was found between the amino acid pattern of sera from healthy and diseased subjects. After the quantitative analysis, the patients were divided into 2 groups: (1) patients with a moderately high serum urea level and (2) those with a high serum urea level. These two groups were compared statistically with healthy individuals, using the analysis of variance and Tukey's confidence intervals. Significant differences were found for average levels of cystine and leucine between the patient group with high urea level and the two other groups. The average concentrations of cystine and leucine in the serum of healthy persons and patients with a moderately high urea level are not significantly different, whereas in the case of glycine and phenylalanine, significant differences were found only in levels in healthy people compared with the two groups of patients. © 1969.