[Effects of the intravenous administration of essential amino acids on metabolism of nitrogen in the nephrotic syndrome and in chronic renal insufficiency].

The effects of the i.v. administration of essential amino acids on the balance of total nitrogen, non-proteic nitrogen and alpha amino acid were assessed in 10 normal subjects, 8 patients with nephrotic syndrome and 16 patients with chronic renal insufficiency. After infusion, nitrogen balance proved to be significantly positive in all subjects. Only in nephrotic patients was urinary excretion of nonproteic nitrogen significantly reduced after infusion of amino acids. It is supposed that this is mainly due to diminished protein catabolism.