Among the middle molecule fractions obtained by high performance gel chromatography on Sephadex G-15 combined with gradient ion exchange chromatography on DEAE Sephadex A-25 from plasma ultrafiltrates of six polyneuropathic patients, only peak b4-2 was at a significantly higher concentration than that obtained from uremic patients with neuropathy. Purification of the b4-2 solute allows its quantitative determination in biological fluids. The b4-2 plasma concentrations are 1 mg/L in healthy subjects (n=30), 4.6 +/- 0.2 mg/L in uremic patients (n=67) and 13-19 mg/L in six polyneuropathic patients. The 24-hr urinary excretion is 13 +/- 1 mg. The weekly removal rates in hemofiltration or in hemodialysis, using high permeability membrane three times a week, are 38-40 mg. In an in vitro sural nerve test for the evalution of middle molecule neurotoxicity, the b4-2 solute exhibits a neurotoxic effect at concentrations similar to those found in plasma of neuropathic patients. Preliminary results of an attempt to identify the neurotoxin indicate that it is an acid-polyol derivative.
Concerning the middle molecules in uremia and other diseases, the potential artifact that can impede an accurate quantitation of middle molecules and that is related to the absorption of a very commonly used drug, namely aspirin, is discussed. Peak 7c and peak b 4-2 are two different middle molecules separated by gel permeation chromatography followed by anion-exchange chromatography. Oral ingestion of acetylsalicylic acid modifies the chromatographic pattern of the middle molecule fraction in normal subjects and uremic patients. Peak 7c is increased in the urine of healthy subjects, whereas this is not the case for peak b 4-2: With the b 4-2 technique, ingestion of acetylsalicylic acid produces a higher peak b 5. This is consistent with the previous demonstration that peak 7c was eluted as peak b 5. Structural analogies between salicylate metabolites and orthohydroxyhippuric acid beta-glucuronate (i.e., the main component of peak 7c) could explain this drug-related artifact.
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