The role of urea in albumin dimerisation in nephrotic urines

Albumin dimerisation in nephrotic urine frozen to -20 degrees C occurs at low ionic strength in the presence of quite low concentrations of urea (greater than 0.2 mol/l). Urea will also dimerize normal serum albumin under these conditions. The appearance of dimer in patients with a nephrotic syndrome treated with steroids is significantly correlated (p less than 0.001) with an increase in urinary urea concentration.