Characterization of uraemia-induced decrease in insulin binding on erythrocytes.

In the present study it was found that uraemic plasma contains inhibitors which affect insulin binding on erythrocyte insulin receptors. Insulin radioreceptor assays performed in the absence of uraemic plasma revealed no defects in the receptors of the uraemic erythrocytes. Uraemic plasma caused a 48% decrease in insulin binding on healthy erythrocytes at a high (10.1 ng/ml) insulin concentration, but only a 17% decrease at a low (70 pg/ml) insulin concentration. The inhibition of insulin binding by uraemic plasma decreased during a haemodialysis treatment from 18% to 13% at the low insulin concentration, and from 30% to 23% at the high insulin concentration. Insulin insensitivity in uraemia appears to be due to inhibition of the insulin receptors.