Plasma levels of proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide and adrenomedullin in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
BACKGROUND
Proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide (PAMP) is a novel hypotensive peptide present in the precursor of adrenomedullin (AM), a vasodilative and natriuretic peptide. However, the profile of PAMP in hemodialyzed (HD) patients has not been determined.


METHODS
We measured plasma levels of PAMP, total AM (tAM) and a mature form of AM (mAM, the biologically active form) in HD patients (n = 31) and in normal controls (n = 21).


RESULTS
Plasma concentrations of PAMP before HD were significantly higher than those in controls (4.02 +/- 0.24 vs. 1.64 +/- 0.12 fmol/ml, p < 0.001) and decreased to the control level after HD (2.17 +/- 0.18 vs. 1.64 +/- 0.12 fmol/ml; NS). The plasma PAMP level before HD significantly correlated with weight gain during HD sessions (r = 0.41, p < 0.05), but not with predialysis blood pressure. The concentrations of mAM before and after HD were significantly higher than those in controls. The plasma mAM level before HD significantly correlated with weight gain during HD sessions, but not with predialysis blood pressure. The plasma level of PAMP did not correlate with that of mAM in HD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
PAMP and AM may be involved in the regulation of blood volume in patients undergoing HD.
Tokura
Takeshi
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Miyazaki Medical College, Miyazaki, Japan.
Kinoshita
Hiroshi
H
Fujimoto
Shouichi
S
Kitamura
Kazuo
K
Eto
Tanenao
T
D053607:Adrenomedullin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000097:blood*; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011506:Proteins; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D015430:Weight Gain
D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010455:Peptides; D011506:Proteins; C108283:proadrenomedullin (9-20); D053607:Adrenomedullin