The role of carbamylated hemoglobin in identifying acute and chronic renal failure.

ABSTRACT

Carbamylated hemoglobin (CarbHb) levels expressed as valipe hydantoin (VH) were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in patients with acute renal failure (ARF, n=35) and chronic renal failure (CRF, n=39). CarbHb levels in CRF patients were approximately 2.5 times of those in ARF ones (121.2 +/- 8 vs 54.8 +/- 6 microgVH/gHb, p<0.01). CarbHb levels of 80 microgVH/gHb provided the best statistical values (sensitivity of 89% and specificity of 82%). CarbHb/BUN and Carb/Cr ratios were also effective determinants in differentiation between ARF and CRF. CarbHb/BUN ratio of 1.5 and CarbHb/Cr ratio of 20 were the best statistical cut off points. As such, measurement of CarbHb levels could be a reliable non-invasive method in identifying ARF from CRF patients.