QUANTITATION OF INTRACELLULAR TRYPTOPHAN AND ITS METABOLITE 5-HYDROXY-INDOLE-3-ACETIC ACID IN UREMIC PATIENTS

High performance liquid chromatographic method with electrochemical de tection was used to quantitate levels of tryptophan (Trp) and its meta bolite 5-hydroxy-indole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels in erythrocytes and leucocytes of 41 uremic patients. These patients were treated by m aintenance hemodialysis (HD, n = 18) and continuous ambulatory periton eal dialysis (CAPD, n = 25). The method of analysis is accurate, sensi tive and reproducible. The results accumulated in uremic patients are statistically compared with age-matched healthy subjects (n = 21). The results demonstrate the abnormal intracellular distribution of Trp an d 5-HIAA in uremic patients.