A sensitive and specific ELISA for plasma pentosidine

Background. Advanced glycation end products are formed by non-enzymatic gly cation and oxidation reaction. Pentosidine is a well-known and characterize d structure among them, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of comp lications associated with chronic renal failure and long-term dialysis, suc h as dialysis-related amyloidosis and atherosclerosis. Methods. We established a highly sensitive and specific competitive enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for plasma pentosidine and applied it to large numbers of plasma samples including haemodialysis (FID) and continuo us ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients. We compared their plasma pentosidine levels determined by the competitive ELISA with those determin ed by high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay currently used. Results. The plasma pentosidine levels determined by the ELISA were correla ted well with those determined by sophisticated instrumental HPLC assay, bo th in non-diabetic and diabetic dialysis patients. Both analyses yielded co mparable results, with over 8-fold higher plasma pentosidine levels in IID and CAPD patients, irrespective of the presence or absence of diabetes, as compared to normal subjects and non-uraemic diabetic patients. Conclusions, The competitive ELISA will provide a rapid and convenient dete rmination of plasma pentosidine content and thus be useful to assess the ca rbonyl stress in uraemic patients.