This chapter will address the broad subject of uremic retention solutes (URS), also known as uremic toxins. Some of these solutes had been recognized for decades, and in 1999 when the European Uremic Toxin Work Group was established, a fuller description of URS was presented. The group sought to identify and characterize the solutes in the serum of patients with impaired glomerular filtration, in order to explore their role in the pathogenesis of the uremic syndrome and improve current therapeutic options. This chapter will review the different types of URS, as well as the adverse effects associated with their accumulation. It will also cover current and potential therapeutic approaches to reduce their levels.
Part of the book: Aspects in Dialysis