Non-Protein Nitrogen Compounds Flashcards
Product of analytic methodology
requiring removal of protein from sample before analysis
Nonportein nitrogen compounds
NPN compounds are used to
Monitor renal or kidney function
Concentration of nitrogen-containing compounds was quantified spectrophotometrically by converting nitrogen to
Ammonia
Majority of NPN compounds arise from catabolism of
Proteins
Nucleic acids
Approximate plasma concentration (% of total NPN)
Urea 45-50
Amino Acids 25
Uric Acid 10
Creatinine 5
Creatine 1-2
Ammonia 0.2
Approximate urine concentration (% of excreted)
Urea 86.0
Amino Acids -
Uric Acid 1.7
Creatinine 4.5
Creatine -
Ammonia 2.8
NPN with the highest concentration in the blood
Urea
Major excretory product of protein metabolism
Urea
Organ that synthesize urea
Liver
Two forms of urea
Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
Urea nitrogen (UN)
Urea N → Urea concentration
Urea N x 2.14
Clinical function of urea
Evaluate renal function
Assess hydration status
To determine nitrogen balance
To aid in the diagnosis of renal disease
To verify adequacy of dialysis
Factors that affect concentration of urea in the plasma
Protein content of the diet
Rate of protein catabolism
Renal function
Perfusion
Urea is reported in terms of
Nitrogen concentration
Chemical Method (Direct Method) for Urea
Diacetyl monoxime method
Substrate of Diacetyl monoxime method
Urea + DAM
Product of Diacetyl monoxime method
Yellow Diazine Derivative
Enzymatic Methods (Indirect Method) for Urea
Urease (Urea aminohydrolase)
Coupled Urease/ Glutamate Dehydrogenase method
Proposed reference method for urea
Isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS)
Conversion factor of Urea
0.357
Specimens for urea measurements
Plasma
Serum
Urine
Fasting sample is required for urea measurements. True or False?
False; not required
Why cant we use citrate and fluoride in plasma when measuring urea?
Citrate and fluoride inhibit urease
Why should we refrigerate urine samples for urea e=measurements?
Urea is susceptible to bacterial decomposition
Alevated urea in the blood
Azotemia
3 main categories of azotemia
Prerenal
Renal
Postrenal
Azotemia as a result of reduced renal blood flow
Prerenal azotemia
Pathophysiology of prerenal azotemia
Less blood is delivered to the kidney, therefore less urea is being filtered or excreted. Thus, results to increase blood urea nitrogen concentration
Azotemia as a result of diminished glomerular filtration which occurs in wide variety of kidney diseases
Renal azotemia
Culprit of renal azotemia
Kidney damage or abnormal kidney
function
Azotemia as a result of obstruction of the urine flow and anywhere in the urinary tract by renal calculi, tumors of the bladder or prostate or severe infection
Postrenal azotemia
Elevated urea in the blood accompanied by renal failure
Uremia
Cause of decreased plasma urea
Low protein intake
Severe liver disease
Urea is produced from protein metabolism. True or False?
True
BUN or Urea N/Creatinine ratio
10:1-20:1
High (>20:1) BUN or Urea N/Creatinine ratio indicates
Prerenal and Postrenal azotemia
Low (<20:1) BUN or Urea N/Creatinine ratio indicates
Decreased urea production
Reference interval of plasma/serum urea nitrogen
6-20 mg/dL
Reference interval 24hr urine urea nitrogen
12-20 g/d
The product of catabolism of the purine nucleic acids (adenine and guanine)
Uric acid
98-100% of uric acid is reabsorbed in the proximal tubules. True or False?
True
Uric acid is soluble in plasma. True or False?
False; not soluble
Deposition of uric acid in joints
Gout
Deposition of uric acid in tissue
Tophi
Organs that convert purines into uric acid
Liver
Nearly all of the uric acid in plasma is present as
Monosodium urates
Clinical use of uric acid
To confirm diagnosis and monitor
treatment of gout
To prevent uric acid nephropathy
during chemotherapeutic treatment
To assess inherited disorders of purine metabolism
To detect kidney dysfunction
To assist in the diagnosis of renal calculi
Chemical method for uric acid measurements
Caraway method