EFFECTS OF CHRONIC-RENAL-FAILURE AND HEMODIALYSIS ON PLASMA GLOMERULOPRESSIN

Glomerulopressin (GP) is a small molecular weight hepatic hormone whic h increases glomerular capillary pressure and enhances glomerular filt ration rate (GFR) in experimental animals. Protein ingestion, glucagon secretion and volume expansion raise plasma GP activity. Effects of e nd-stage renal disease (ESRD) and hemodialysis (HD) on GP activity are unknown. We measured plasma levels and HD clearance of GP in eight ES RD patients and four normals. Predialysis plasma GP in the ESRD group was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.01). Plasma GP activity was significantly lowered by HD (p < 0.01). GP activity of hemofiltrate averaged 38.1% of that in the predialysis plasma. Single passage through the dialyzer resulted in a significant fall in plasma GP activity (p < 0.001). Dialyzer clearance of GP was 143.8 +/- 73.4 ml/min, representing 75.4% of that of urea. Conclusions: a) plasma GP activity is elevated in ESRD, due probably to increased production (vo lume expansion) and reduced renal elimination, b) GP is readily remove d by HD and c) the fall in plasma GP postdialysis is due to removal by dialysis and possibly reduced hepatic release with the correction of hypervolemia.