Determination of polyamines in hydrolysates of uremic plasma by high-performance cation-exchange column chromatography.

The levels of putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine and spermine in uremic plasma were determined with an automatic polyamine analyzer with a 7.5 X 0.2 cm I.D. cation-exchange column using a stepwise sodium chloride gradient. All four polyamines were higher in ten patients with chronic renal failure than in eight normal subjects. The total polyamine content was also measured in the patients' plasma before and after maintenance dialysis; putrescine and spermidine levels were significantly lowered by the procedure.