Kidney hemodynamics after ketone body and amino acid infusion in normal and IDDM subjects

Little information is available on the hemodynamic response (renal reserve) of the diabetic kidney during an acute amino acid infusion, which has been shown to increase glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in normal humans. We recently found that the infusion of ketone bodies is able to raise GFR in both normal subjects and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal reserve in 15 IDDM patients with a duration of diabetes of greater than 9 yr [8 with albumin excretion rate less than 15 micrograms/min (group 1) and 7 with albumin excretion rate greater than 100 micrograms/min (group 2)] and in 8 normal subjects during amino acid infusion (33 mumol.kg-1.min-1, Travasol 10% wt/vol solution containing 0.154 mM sodium chloride concentration; Travenol, Savage, MD) and during acetoacetic sodium salt (25 mumol.kg-1.min-1) infusion. Blood glucose was clamped at euglycemic levels. The infusion of sodium acetoacetate resulted in a 10- to 15-fold increase in circulating concentrations of ketone bodies, which were similar in magnitude in normal subjects and diabetic patients. The GFR peak increase above baseline after sodium acetoacetate infusion was 28% in normal subjects and 27% in group 1 and 19% in group 2 diabetic patients. The infusion of amino acid solution produced a three- to fivefold increase in plasma concentrations of amino acids in both normal subjects and diabetic patients. The GFR peak increase above baseline after amino acid infusion was significantly lower in diabetic patients (IDDM group 1: 5%, P less than .01; IDDM group 2: 6%, P less than .01) than in normal subjects (38%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)