Influence of protein composition on total urinary protein determined by pyrocatechol-violet (UPRO vitros) and pyrogallol red dye binding methods.

Influence of protein composition on total urinary protein assays was evaluated for pyrogallol red-molybdate both with and without sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and pyrocatechol violet-molybdate complex (UPRO) techniques. Using mixtures of albumin and gamma-globulins (n = 8; albumin/globulin ratio, 0 to 10), mean recoveries were 79, 77, and 81% for pyrogallol red, pyrogallol red-SDS, and UPRO, respectively. Using diluted myeloma sera (n = 26; A/G ratio, 0.39 to 2.35), mean recovery by the UPRO method was 115% (vs. 63% for pyrogallol red and 83% pyrogallol red-SDS). Results positively correlated with A/G ratio for UPRO (r = 0.69; P < 0.001), pyrogallol red (r = 0.48; P < 0.05), but not pyrogallol red-SDS (r = 0.191; NS). The difference between UPRO and pyrogallol red assays correlated with the A/G ratio (r = 0.82; P < 0.001). In light chain proteinuria (n = 10), no significant difference (< 15%) was observed between techniques, whereas in glomerular selective proteinuria (n = 10), values were significantly higher with the UPRO assay (2.20 +/- 1.61 vs. 1.43 +/- 1.10 g/L; P < 0.02). Our results support the idea that screening for renal diseases can be performed with UPRO or pyrogallol red assays. However, since A/G ratios may vary with renal disease evolution, follow-up of patients with positive proteinuria should be performed using the same assay, preferably the pyrogallol red-SDS.