Erythrocyte transketolase activity in uremia.

We performed a study concerning the activity of erythrocyte transketolase and thiamine metabolism in 73 uremic patients with or without neuropathy and 67 normal control subjects. Although the total vitamin B1 level in whole blood was high in the uremic patients, the transketolase activity in the hemolysate and the thiamine pyrophosphate effect on it were lower than those of normal subjects. The values of the transketolase activity of the two groups were statistically correlated with the levels of the thiamine pyrophosphate effect and the vitamin B1 content of the blood. Inhibition of transketolase activity was apparent in the uremic patients. However, this inhibition did not seem to be the only cause for the development of uremic neuropathy since no significant difference in these activities was observed among uremic patients with and without neuropathy. Moreover, a direct correlation could not be confirmed between transketolase activity and motor nerve conduction velocity.