Abstract
Prior studies have shown that PA levels are elevated in blood components of CF homozygotes. We have studied urinary PA levels and 14C spermidine metabolism in controls and CF patients. The urinary PA levels in 7 CF homozygotes were 2-10 fold higher than in 8 heterozygotes and 6 normals (p<0.0001). No statistically significant differences were found between heterozygotes and controls. The 14C spermidine plasma decay curves in two CF patients with severe clinical disease (NIH Score <50) were not significantly different from normal. However, urinary excertion of the 14C radiolabel by the 2 CF patients was only about 10% as compared to 60-76% excreted by normals after 72 hours. Urine samples were obtained and NIH Clinical Scores were assigned to a group of 12 CF patients. Those with scores <70 (N = 4) demonstrated statistically significant lower levels of putrescine (p <0.05) and significantly higher levels of spermine (p <0.01) than those with scores >70 (N = 8). These data show that although plasma decay curves for 14C spermidine are similar to normals, the urinary excretion pattern suggests sequestration in CF patients with severe clinical disease. Further, polyamine levels are elevated in the urine of CF homozygotes and appear to correlate well with the patient's clinical status.
Supported by USPHS Grants CA-14783 and CA-17094 from the National Cancer Institute (D.H.R.). R.B. is an ALA Fellow.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rosenblum, M., Beckerman, R., Taussig, L. et al. 559 POLYAMINE (PA) METABOLISM IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS (CF). Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 457 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00564
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00564