ERYTHROCYTE CATALASE ACTIVITY IN CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE PATIENTS AND DONORS IN THE PRESENCE OF METAL-IONS

The effect of hemodialysis on erythrocyte catalase (CAT) activity was studied in chronic renal failure (CRF) patients. This enzyme was analy zed in vitro, and its activity throughout the incubation period was fo und to be 34% lower than in healthy donors. The influence of Al3+, Cu2 +, and Ni2+ on CAT activity in donor's blood (in vitro) is also studie d, for short incubation periods at trace levels of 2.5, 0.25, and 0.19 6 mM, respectively. With Al3+ and Cu2+, there is a decrease in the enz yme activity. With Ni2+, there is at first a similar decrease, followe d by a recovery in activity up to control values.