Fate of parathyroid hormone during hemodialysis and ultrafiltration

In order to shed light on the discrepant changes in plasma immunoreactive parathyroid hormone (iPTH) during hemodialysis (HD) and ultrafiltration (UF) in end-stage renal failure, the influence of filtration of PTH fragments on the iPTH level in plasma was examined in 2 sets of experiments: in vitro dialysis of 125I-bPTH 1-84, 125I-hPTH 1-34 and 125I-hPTH 53-84 added to plasma was successively performed through a cuprophane membrane. Gel filtration on a Biogel P-100 column and subsequent counting of the eluate were performed with the plasma before and after dialysis, and with the dialysate fluid after dialysate fluid after dialysis. An ultrafiltrate obtained from a patient with renal failure was also analyzed for iPTH with a 'C-' and with an 'N-terminal' antiserum (GP 500 MA and AS 211/32), and so was his plasma before and after UF, and after a subsequent dialysis session. Fluid obtained by lavage of the filter with acetic acid after dialysis was also analyzed. Chromatography with measurements of iPTH in the eluate was performed in each case, and the procedure was repeated applying a different transmembrane pressure. Immunoreactive material found in the concentrated ultrafiltrate, but not in plasma, was characterized by means of dilution curves in different RIA performed with the C-terminal antiserum preincubated with various synthetic PTH fragments. Results showed that intact PTH does not cross the cuprophane membrane during both in vitro dialysis and in vivo UF. The 1-34 fragments are poorly dialyzed in vitro; either they stick to the membrane or they are disintegrated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)