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Blood levels of branched-chain α-keto acids in uremia: Therapeutic implications

Blutspiegel verzweigtkettiger α-Ketosäuren in der Urämie: Hinweise zur Therapie

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Zusammenfassung

Die Serumkonzentrationen verzweigtkettiger Ketosäuren (BCKA's), d.h. α-Ketoisocapronsäure (KICA), α-Keto-isovaleriansäure (KIVA) und α-Keto-β-methyl-n-valeriansäure (KMVA) sowie ihrer korrespondierenden Aminosäuren wurden bei Urämikern mit kompensierter chronischer Niereninsuffizienz sowie bei hämodialysierten Urämikern und bei nierengesunden Kontrollen bestimmt.

Urämiker hatten signifikant niedriger BCKA-Konzentrationen im Serum als nierengesunde Kontrollen. Es bestand eine negative Korrelation zwischen der BCKA-Konzentration und derjenigen von Kreatinin bzw. von Harnstoff. BCKA's ließen sich im Hämofiltrat nachweisen. Die Konzentrationen von KICA und KMVA waren signifikant höher, diejenige von KIVA identisch verglichen mit den entsprechenden Konzentrationen im Hämofiltrat. Daraus läßt sich eine unterschiedliche Eiweißbindung der BCKA's vermuten. Orale Einnahme von 5 g Ca-KICA führte bei einer gesunden Versuchsperson zu einem vorübergehenden, deutlichen Anstieg von Serum-KICA und Leuzin. Der maximale Anstieg der KICA trat früher ein als das Leuzinmaximum.

Die jeweils 28tägige Gabe eines Gemisches verzweigtkettiger Keto- und Aminosäuren (6–9 g/Tag) mit oder ohne Eiweißbeschränkung der Kost auf 0,5 g/kg/Tag führte bei Patienten mit kompensierter chronischer Niereninsuffizienz zu keiner Änderung der BCKA-Konzentrationen im Serum.

Die Bestimmung verzweigtkettiger Ketosäuren im Blut bietet neue Möglichkeiten zur Erforschung des Stickstoffmetabolismus sowie zur Überprüfung des Stellenwerts von Ketosäuren bei der Behandlung von Patienten mit chronischer Niereninsuffizienz.

Summary

Serum levels of branched-chain keto acids (BCKA's), i.e., α-keto-isocaproic acid (KICA), α-keto-isovaleric acid (KIVA) and α-keto-β-methyl-n-valeric acid (KMVA) as well as their corresponding amino acids were determined in uremic patients with compensated chronic renal failure, patients on hemodialysis, and in subjects without renal insufficiency.

Uremic patients had significantly lower BCKA levels than controls without renal insufficiency. There was a negative correlation between serum BCKA's and the levels of blood urea and creatinine. BCKA's were detectable in the hemofiltrate. The concentrations of KICA and KMVA were significantly higher, that of KIVA identical compared to the respective concentrations in the hemofiltrate. This suggests a different protein binding of BCKA's. Oral administration of 5 g Ca-KICA to a healthy subject resulted in a transient increase in serum KICA and leucine. The maximum increase in KICA preceded the leucine peak.

Serum BCKA levels did not change significantly in patients with compensated renal failure, who were — for 28 days each — first on an unrestricted diet plus supplementation, then solely on an unrestricted diet, followed by a protein-restricted diet (0.5 g/kg/day) plus supplementation and finally on a protein-restricted diet alone. Supplementation was with 5 essential amino acids, 4 keto acids and 1 hydroxyacid (6–9 g/day).

The determination of BCKA's in serum offers a promising investigatory tool to study nitrogen metabolism in healthy and uremic subjects and might help to further evaluate the role of keto acids in the treatment of chronic renal failure.

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Schauder, P., Matthaei, D., Scheler, F. et al. Blood levels of branched-chain α-keto acids in uremia: Therapeutic implications. Klin Wochenschr 57, 825–830 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01477987

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