title: Plasma beta-endorphin and beta-lipotropin in patients with end-stage renal disease--effects of hemodialysis.
abstract: The effect of hemodialysis on the plasma concentration of beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) was studied in 11 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The plasma beta-EP/beta-LPH concentrations measured at 13.00 h were not significantly different in the patients compared to age-matched controls. Furthermore, hemodialysis produced no change in the plasma concentrations of beta-EP/beta-LPH. The elevated levels of beta-EP/LPH previously reported are most likely a reflection of the measurement of these peptides at a time of peak diurnal secretion compounded by a fall in the metabolic clearance rate of the endogenous opioids in ESRD. It remains to be established whether measurement of adronocorticotropic hormone or beta-EP/beta-LPH is more accurate an indicator of the integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis in patients with ESRD.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004723:Endorphins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D004723:Endorphins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D008083:beta-Lipotropin