Homocitrulline: a new marker for differentiating acute from chronic renal failure

摘要

Background: Carbamylation is a non-enzymatic post-translational modification of proteins characterized by the addition of isocyanic acid to amino groups. As isocyanic acid mainly originates from the spontaneous dissociation of urea, carbamylation rate is increased during renal failure. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum homocitrulline (HCit), which results from the carbamylation of e-amino groups of lysine (Lys) residues, in acute renal failure (ARF) and to determine if it could be useful for differentiating acute from chronic renal failure (CRF).