[2S] UNIT 4 Non-Protein Nitrogen Compounds: Urea & Uric Acid Flashcards
Nitrogen-containing substances found in blood that are not proteins.
Non-Protein Nitrogen Compounds
For the assessment and monitoring of renal function
Non-Protein Nitrogen Compounds
Prior to the current analytical methods available, nitrogen content was measured with the removal of proteins before analysis
Protein Free Filtrate
Most Abundant NPN
Urea
Least Abundant NPN
Ammonia
Derived from the catabolism of protein and amino acids
Urea
Major NPN found in the blood (45-50% of total NPN)
Urea
Synthesized in the liver from CO2 + ammonia
Urea
Filtered freely by the glomerulus
○ 40% Reabsorbed
○ 50% Excreted in the Urine
○ <10% Excreted through GI tract and skin
Urea
Arising from the deamination of the amino acids by means of the Krebs-Henseleit Cycle or Ornithine Pathway
Urea
T/F: The concentration of urea is dependent on renal function and perfusion, the protein content of the diet, and the amount of protein catabolism
T
CLINICAL APPLICATION
● Assess nitrogen balance
● Aid in the diagnosis of renal disease
● Verify the adequacy of dialysis
Urea
CLINICAL APPLICATION
● Evaluate renal function
● Determine hydration status
Urea
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF UREA
Fatal if not treated by dialysis or transplantation
Uremia / Uremic Syndrome
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF UREA
Very high levels of plasma urea accompanied by renal
failure
Uremia / Uremic Syndrome
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
↑ Creatinine ↑ B.U.N. ↑ Osm.
Pre-Renal
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF UREA
An elevated concentration of urea in the blood
Azotemia
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
Decreased blood flow to the kidneys
Pre-Renal
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
Impaired Perfusion: (Commonly seen in patients with)
○ Cardiac Failure (Congestive Heart Failure)
○ Sepsis (Shock)
○ Blood Loss (Hemorrhage)
○ Dehydration
○ Vascular Occlusion
Pre-Renal
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
Level of protein metabolism
■ High protein diet
■ Increased protein catabolism
Pre-Renal
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
● Occurs in the kidneys
● Decreased renal function
Renal / Intrinsic
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
● Small-vessel Vasculitis
● Acute Tubular Necrosis
Renal / Intrinsic
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
● Acute / Chronic Renal Failure
● Glomerulonephritis
Renal / Intrinsic
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
● Prolonged Hypotension
● Interstitial Nephritis
Renal / Intrinsic
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
Happens after reaching the kidneys
Post-Renal
High urea: Normal Creatinine
Pre-Renal
AZOTEMIA (BASED ON THE DYSFUNCTION OR SITE OF ABNORMALITY)
Urinary Tract Obstruction
○ Causes:
■ Renal calculi
■ Tumors of the bladder/prostate
■ Severe infection like UTI
Post-Renal
High urea: High Creatinine
Renal
Normal urea: High Creatinine
Post-Renal
Urea Nitrogen (B.U.N.) : Creatinine
10:1 to 20:1
Determination of urinary concentration is of value in the assessment of nitrogen balance for nutritional
management
BUN
Chemical Formula of Urea
CO(NH2)2
B.U.N. to Urea
2.14
B.U.N.. in mg/dL to mmol/L
0.357
Urea to B.U.N
0.467
UREA DETERMINATION
Measures urea as a whole without isolating nitrogen
Direct Method
UREA DETERMINATION
Measures the nitrogen content of urea (B.U.N.)
Indirect Method
UREA DETERMINATION
Uses:
○ Evaluate renal function
○ Assess hydration status
○ Determine nitrogen balance
○ Verify adequacy of dialysis
Indirect Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
● Fearon’s Reaction
● Also known as Friedman’s Method or Xanthydrol Method
Condensation with Diacetyl Monoxime Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Reagents: strong acid, oxidizing agent, ferric ions,
thiosemicarbazide
Condensation with Diacetyl Monoxime Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Product of Condensation with Diacetyl Monoxime Method
Yellow Diazine Derivative
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Direct or Indirect?
Condensation with Diacetyl Monoxime Method
Direct
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION: ADVANTAGES
● Ammonia does not interfere in the measurement
● Used in auto analyzers
Condensation with Diacetyl Monoxime Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION: DISADVANTAGES
● Non-specific
● Uses toxic substances
Condensation with Diacetyl Monoxime Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
DAM + water === (H+) diacetyl
Diacetyl + urea === (Fe+3) diazine
Condensation with Diacetyl Monoxime Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Urea + o-phthalaldehyde (H+) → isoindoline + naphthylethylene diamine (H+) → colored product
Reaction w/ O-phthalaldehyde and Naphthylethylene Diamine
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Product of Reaction w/ O-phthalaldehyde and Naphthylethylene Diamine
Chromogen / Colored Product
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Reaction w/ O-phthalaldehyde and Naphthylethylene Diamine
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION: ADVANTAGES
● No ammonia interference
○ Measure entire urea and do not isolate the nitrogen content
● Used in automation
Reaction w/ O-phthalaldehyde and Naphthylethylene Diamine
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION: DISADVANTAGES
Sulfa containing drugs
interfere
Reaction w/ O-phthalaldehyde and Naphthylethylene Diamine
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
It is a 2-step procedure wherein we need to digest urea first; this allows the isolation of nitrogen component
Micro-Kjeldahl Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Direct or Indirect?
Micro-Kjeldahl Method
Indirect
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Digestion: urea (H2SO4 + H3PO4) → NH4+
○ Digestion is done by adding strong acids, eg.
sulfuric acid and phosphoric acid
○ Isolated content: ammonium
Micro-Kjeldahl Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
NH4 + (alkalinized) → NH3↑ + K2HgI → NH2Hg2I3
Micro-Kjeldahl Method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Urea (urease) → HCO3 + NH4+ + Gum Ghatti
(alkaline) + Nessler’s reagent → NH2Hg2I3 (yellow)
ENZYMATIC: Urease-Nessler’s method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Product of Micro-Kjeldahl Method
yellow compound (diamino mercuric iodide)
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Urea in the sample will be reacted upon urease, which will hydrolyze urea, resulting to bicarbonate and ammonium → Gum Ghatti is added to prevent bubble formation → add
Nessler’s reagent → di amino mercuric iodide (measure spectrophotometrically)
ENZYMATIC: Urease-Nessler’s method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Direct or Indirect?
Urease-Nessler’s method
Indirect
Systematic name of urease
urea amidohydrolase
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Urea (urease) → HCO3- + NH4+ + sodium
nitroprusside (alkaline) phenol hypochlorite →
indophenol blue + NaCl + H2O
ENZYMATIC: Urease-Berthelot’s method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Disadvantages:
○ Not specific
○ Very sensitive to interference from
endogenous ammonia
ENZYMATIC: Urease-Berthelot’s method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Coupled enzymatic method; combining L-glutamate dehydrogenase and urease
ENZYMATIC: Urease-L-Glutamate Dehydrogenase Method (GLDH method)
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
● First reaction is to utilize urease to hydrolyze ammonia to form ammonium and bicarbonate
● Secondary reaction involves utilizing
glutamate dehydrogenase
○ We monitor the reaction or oxidation of NADH to NAD+
ENZYMATIC: Urease-L-Glutamate Dehydrogenase Method (GLDH method)
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
The conductivity of ammonium is measured
ENZYMATIC: Urease-Conductometric method
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
● Quantification of result using isotopically labeled
compound
● Proposed reference method of urea
Istotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry
UREA METHODS OF DETERMINATION
Detection of characteristic fragments following
ionization
Istotope Dilution Mass Spectrometry
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR UREA
T/F: If plasma will be used, any anticoagulant maybe used including sodium fluoride/sodium citrate.
F; EXCEPT sodium fluoride/sodium citrate, which interferes with urease and ammonium ions
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR UREA
T/F: Urine is susceptible to bacterial decomposition: urine sample should be refrigerated
T
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR UREA
T/F: Protein content of diet influences urea but minimal: no fasting requirement
T
Product of catabolism of purines bases (adenine and
guanine)
Uric Acid
Readily filtered by glomerulus, but undergoes
reabsorption and secretion
Uric Acid
98-100%:reabsorbed in the PROXIMAL tubules
Uric Acid
<1%: excreted in the distal tubules
○ Renal excretion: 70% of UA
○ GI excretion: 30%
Uric Acid
Relatively insoluble in plasma as monosodium urate at pH 7
Uric Acid
URIC ACID
At concentrations >6.8 mg/dL), plasma is saturated, _______ _____ may form in the tissues
urates crystals
URIC ACID
At pH ____, uric acid crystals may form
<5.75
High concentrations accumulate in the joints and tissue resulting in inflammation (gouty arthritis)
Uric Acid
CLINICAL APPLICATION
○ Assess inherited disorders of purine metabolism
○ Detect kidney dysfunction
Uric Acid
CLINICAL APPLICATION
Assist in the diagnosis of renal calculi (kidney
stones)
Uric Acid
CLINICAL APPLICATION
Confirm diagnosis and monitor treatment of
gout
Uric Acid
CLINICAL APPLICATION
Assess and prevent uric acid during chemotherapeutic management (Chemotherapy)
Uric Acid
URIC ACID: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
● In males between 30 and 50 years of age
● In female they appear after menopause
HYPERURICEMIA: Gout
URIC ACID: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Px (patient) pain and inflammation of the joints caused by precipitation of sodium urates
HYPERURICEMIA: Gout
URIC ACID: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Increased: hyperuricemia (___ mg/dL)
○ Hyperuricemia – in 25% to 30% of patients
○ Result of overproduction of uric acid
○ Formation of renal calculi
> 6.0
URIC ACID: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Treatment for Increased Nuclear Breakdown
Allopurinol
URIC ACID: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
● Seen in patients undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, polycythemia
● UA monitoring to avoid nephrotoxicity
HYPERURICEMIA: Increased Nuclear Breakdown
URIC ACID: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
inhibit xanthine oxidase and stop formation of uric acid
Allopurinol
URIC ACID: PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
● Impaired filtration and secretion
● Not a good indicator of renal function
○ For renal: BUN, creatinine
HYPERURICEMIA: Kidney Diseases
URIC ACID
X-linked genetic disorder (seen only in males)
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
URIC ACID
Lack of this enzyme prevents the reutilization of purine bases in the nucleotide salvage pathway
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
URIC ACID
Caused by the complete deficiency of hypoxanthine–guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT)
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
URIC ACID
Too much secretion of AMP/AMV → uric acid increases
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
URIC ACID
It consequently results in INCREASED concentrations of uric acid (plasma and urine)
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
URIC ACID
Neurologic symptoms, mental retardation, and
self-mutilation characterize this extremely rare disease
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
URIC ACID
Increasing purine synthesis; increases the degradation
product
Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome
URIC ACID: DISEASE CORRELATION
Increased or Hypouricemia?
Secondary to severe liver disease
Hypouricemia
URIC ACID: DISEASE CORRELATION
Increased or Hypouricemia?
Mutation on phosphoribosylpyrophosphate synthetase
Increased
URIC ACID: DISEASE CORRELATION
Increased or Hypouricemia?
Toxemia of pregnancy
Increased
URIC ACID: DISEASE CORRELATION
Increased or Hypouricemia?
Lactic acidosis (competition for binding sites in renal tubules)
Increased
URIC ACID: DISEASE CORRELATION
Increased or Hypouricemia?
Defective tubular reabsorption (Fanconi’s Syndrome)
Hypouricemia
URIC ACID: DISEASE CORRELATION
Increased or Hypouricemia?
Chemotherapy with 6-mercaptopurine
or azathioprine (inhibits de novo purine synthesis)
Hypouricemia
URIC ACID: DISEASE CORRELATION
Increased or Hypouricemia?
Overtreatment with allopurinol
Hypouricemia
CAUSES OF HYPER OR HYPOURICEMIA?
Increased dietary intake of purine-rich food
Hyperuricemia
CAUSES OF HYPER OR HYPOURICEMIA?
Catabolic pathways enzyme defects
Hyperuricemia
CAUSES OF HYPER OR HYPOURICEMIA?
Increased URATE production (postmenopausal women,
increased tissue metabolism such as in starvation
Hyperuricemia
CAUSES OF HYPER OR HYPOURICEMIA?
DECREASED excretion
Hyperuricemia
CAUSES OF HYPER OR HYPOURICEMIA?
Increased METABOLISM of cell nuclei (lymphoma,
leukemia, multiple myeloma, polycythemia, hemolytic and megaloblastic anemia)
Hyperuricemia
CAUSES OF HYPER OR HYPOURICEMIA?
Inherited disorders with ENZYME deficiency
(Lesch-Nyhan Syndrome)
Hyperuricemia
CAUSES OF HYPER OR HYPOURICEMIA?
Decreased uric acid excretion (preeclampsia, lactic acidosis)
Hyperuricemia
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Uric acid + phosphotungstic acid + O2 → NaCO3/OH →
tungsten blue + allantoin + CO2
DIRECT REDOX METHOD: Caraway’s / Henry Method
CAUSES OF HYPER OR HYPOURICEMIA?
Chronic renal disease (impaired filtration and secretion)
Hyperuricemia
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Based on the oxidation of UA in PFF (protein-free filtrate) and reduction of PTA
DIRECT REDOX METHOD: Caraway’s / Henry Method
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Interferences (false +/ increase) – turbidity, aspirin and metabolite, acetaminophen, caffeine, and theophylline
DIRECT REDOX METHOD: Caraway’s / Henry Method
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Uses ferric ion for the presence of uric acid produces
Iron Reduction Method
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Develop color formation; Darker the color→ higher
concentration of uric acid
Iron Reduction Method
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Reduced in the presence of Uric Acid
Iron Reduction Method
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
● Most commonly used in the laboratory
● Allantoin is measured and is the final/end product
ENZYMATIC: Uricase Method (Blaunch & Koch)
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Measurement of the differential absorption of UA and allantoin at 290-293 nm
ENZYMATIC: Uricase Method (Blaunch & Koch)
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
More specific
ENZYMATIC: Uricase Method (Blaunch & Koch)
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Disadvantage: Bilirubin and ascorbic acid are interfering
substances that may destroy peroxide
Coupled Enzyme
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
● Proteins cause high
background absorbance
● Negative interference due to Hb and Xanthine
ENZYMATIC: Uricase Method (Blaunch & Koch)
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
● Uses the enzymes peroxidase and catalase.
● Color production is proportional to the uric acid
concentration
Coupled Enzyme
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
Remedy for coupled enzyme
Addition of potassium ferricyanide and ascorbate oxidase
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
● Uses ion exchange and reverse phase column
● Detects ratio
HPLC
ANALYTICAL METHODS – URIC ACID
● Detection of characteristic fragments after ionization
● Quantification using isotopically labeled compound
● Proposed reference method but not routinely used
IDMS
Specimen used for Uric Acid
Heparinized plasma, serum, or URINE
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR URIC ACID
T/F: Diet may affect uric acid concentration
T
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR URIC ACID
T/F: Gross lipemia should be used
F; Gross lipemia should be avoided
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR URIC ACID
Hemolysis, with concomitant glutathione release, may result in ___ values
low
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR URIC ACID
Serum samples may be stored refrigerated for ___ days
3 to 5
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR URIC ACID
Salicylates and thiazides = ________ values for uric acid
INCREASED
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR URIC ACID
T/F: EDTA or fluoride SHOULD NOT BE be used
T
SPECIMEN REQUIREMENT FOR URIC ACID
Urine specimen pH
alkaline (pH 8)