Elevated plasma adenine nucleotide levels in chronic renal failure and their possible significance

Plasma ATP, ADP and AMP levels are increased in uremia. The elevation in plasma ATP level correlates with the serum creatinine in chronic renal failure patients not on dialysis. Successful renal transplantation is associated with the return of ATP, ADP and AMP levels to the normal range. Plasma ATP elevations may reflect sickness on the cellular level in uremia and measurement of plasma ATP may be a useful test to assess the need for dialysis. Plasma ATP elevations could also reflect underexcretion in the urine. Irrespective of the mechanism responsible for increased plasma ATP levels in uremia, an elevation of plasma ATP could have major physiological and metabolic consequences.