Serum beta-endorphin in non-dialysed and haemodialysed patients with chronic renal failure.

Endogenous opioid peptides play an important role in the pathogenesis of uraemic syndrome. The effect of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia on serum beta-endorphin (BE) concentration was studied in 27 uraemic patients and in 14 healthy subjects. Despite elevated basal BE level, that correlated positively with serum creatinine, uraemic patients showed a normal BE secretory pattern. No differences were found between uraemic patients on conservative and those on haemodialysis treatment. The influence of haemodialysis treatment on BE secretion requires further investigations.