PLASMA AMINO-ACID PROFILE IN THE ELDERLY WITH INCREASING UREMIA

Abnormalities in plasma amino acid profiles have been reported in seve re uraemia and dialysis patients and may be a consequence of altered p rotein metabolism in the presence of metabolic acidosis. We studied pl asma amino acid profiles in 7 control subjects [GFR 99.7 +/- (SEM) 14. 5 ml/min/1.73 m(2)] and 7 elderly patients with renal failure (GFR 16. 5 +/- 1.3 ml/min/1.73 m(2)). Uraemic patients had significantly reduce d plasma levels of valine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, tryptophan and ele vated histidine compared to controls. There was no correlation between arterial pH or bicarbonate and plasma amino acid levels.