Urea kinetics in adults with homozygous sickle cell disease.
The kinetics of urea metabolism were measured in four adults with homozygous sickle cell disease (HbSS). On a dietary intake of 1.2 to 2.7 g protein/kg/d the rate of urea production was 188 to 277 mg nitrogen/kg/d. A relatively small proportion of the urea was excreted in the urine (40 per cent), with a high fixed rate of hydrolysis in the bowel, 145 mg nitrogen/kg/d. Although 50 per cent of the nitrogen from hydrolysed urea was resynthesized to urea, and a further 10 per cent may have been lost in the stool, it is estimated that 58 mg nitrogen/kg/d was available for synthetic metabolic activity. Urea kinetics in sickle cell disease subjects are markedly different from normals, and this may be a reflection of the metabolic demands for increased red cell synthesis.
Jackson
A A
AA
Tropical Metabolism Research Unit, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica.
Landman
J P
JP
Stevens
M C
MC
Serjeant
G R
GR
D000328:Adult; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D004032:Diet; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000652:urine; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
D014508:Urea; D009584:Nitrogen