Serum low-molecular-weight proteins in haemodialysis patients: effect of residual renal function.

Serum low-molecular-weight proteins, beta-2-microglobulin and alpha-1-microglobulin, were measured in 34 patients undergoing maintenance haemodialysis. There was a strong positive correlation between beta 2M and alpha 1M and predialysis serum creatinine and strong negative correlations between these proteins and 24-h urine volume and creatinine clearance. Good correlation was also demonstrated with total duration of haemodialysis, which also correlated with residual renal function. It is suggested that the elevated beta 2M and alpha 1M in haemodialysis patients merely reflect the severity of renal failure and are not directly influenced by the duration of dialysis or type of dialysis membrane.