Proteolytic Activity in Patients with Hypercatabolic Renal Failure

Despite several advances in dialysis and medical therapy, the mortality rate for patients with acute renal failure (ARF) remains distressingly high. When ARF is associated with major surgery or trauma, the mortality rate is about 50 to 70 % Such patients are often hypercatabolic as a result of sepsis, hemorrhage, or open-draining wounds. They may be wasted or malnourished from underlying illnesses. Losses of glucose, amino acids and proteins during hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis contribute to wasting.