title: Norepinephrine clearance, chromogranin A and dopamine beta hydroxylase in renal failure.
abstract: Plasma norepinephrine (NE) levels are normal or elevated in patients with renal failure even though uremia often damages the sympathetic nerves that release NE. We infused 3H-NE into subjects with normal, mildly depressed, or absent renal function. 3H-NE clearance was depressed 20% in mild renal failure and 40% in patients on hemodialysis. The calculated rate of NE release into plasma was low in uremics even though their plasma NE was normal. Dopamine beta hydroxylase (D beta H) and chromogranin A are released from sympathetic nerve endings along with NE. D beta H levels were low in uremia and D beta H levels doubled following hemodialysis. Chromogranin A levels were very high in uremics and increased slightly following hemodialysis. Plasma clearance of both NE and chromogranin A appears low in renal failure. The calculated rate of NE release is diminished in uremics, which is in accord with reports of autonomic neuropathy in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego Medical Center.
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ziegler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Morrissey
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: O'Connor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins / Q000097:blood*; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006435:Renal Dialysis
chemical_list: C506150:CHGA protein, human; D053379:Chromogranin A; D002864:Chromogranins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D004299:Dopamine beta-Hydroxylase; D009638:Norepinephrine