Chromatographic analysis of urine and dialysate from schizophrenic patients undergoing hemodialysis

Maladjustments in the central nervous system may result in altered concentrations of neuropeptides in cerebrospinal fluid and urine. Urinary protein-peptide precipitates from psychiatric patients have previously been observed to have different chromatographic profiles with regard to the ultraviolet absorbancy at 280 nm. Hemodialysis has previously been reported to improve some schizophrenic patients and has been recommended in treatment trials. Seven chronic schizophrenic patients were selected for hemodialysis in a double-blind crossover study. Specimens of 24-h urine collections were obtained the day before, the day of, and the day after active and sham dialysis. The chromatographic profiles obtained on Sephadex G-25 gel columns did not change with active dialysis. Materials with ultraviolet absorbancy at 280 nm also precipitated from dialysates and showed the same pattern following active and inactive dialysis. Thus, no biochemical evidence for removal of any pathogenetic humoral substance during hemodialysis could be provided.