To investigate the erythrocyte purine metabolism in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis, erythrocyte purine nucleotides,2 - 3 DPG, the specific activities of some related enzymes and plasma purine nucleosides were measured together with plasma phosphate, and shunt blood pH before and after hemodialysis.
ATP, AMP and IMP levels were significantly elevated in erythrocytes of patients with chronic renal failure.
IMP level in erythrocytes decreased significantly after hemodialysis, while the levels of other nucleotides did not.
No relationships were noted between plasma phosphate concentration, shunt blood pH and levels of ATP and IMP in erythrocytes in patients with chronic renal failure.
2-3 DPG level in erythrocytes increased significantly after hemodialysis.
Red cell APRT activity was raised in patients with chronic renal failure, however the specific activities of HPRT, PRPP synthetase were not changed. Hemodialysis did not affect the specific activities of these enzymes.
The plasma inosine was reduced in patients with chronic renal failure, but plasma oxypurine was not changed.
These results suggested that intrinsic factor (s) of erythrocytes mainly affects the concentrations of ATP and AMP in erythrocytes and that extrinsic factor(s) mainly affects that of IMP in erythrocytes of patients with chronic renal failure.
