Independent plasma levels of sodium and glycine during transurethral resection of the prostate.

This study was done to evaluate the potential role of plasma glycine levels as an indicator of the biochemical changes occurring during or shortly after transurethral resection of the prostate ( TURP ). Seventeen patients undergoing TURP were studied to determine the fate of the absorbed glycine and its effects on other amino acids and their relationship to changes in serum sodium and osmolarity. Twelve patients showed more than 100 per cent increase in plasma glycine levels with values ranging to more than 100-fold elevation. Only two patients showed a change in serum sodium of greater than 10 mEq/l with corresponding change in osmolarity. In one such patient there was no accompanying change in plasma glycine. Thus, major changes in plasma glycine and serum sodium may occur independently of one another, and may separately account for manifestations of the reactions following TURP .