Presence of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) in dialysate from patients with uremia.

MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoxaline), a carcinogenic heterocyclic amine, was found to be present in dialysis fluid of 8 patients with uremia, but not in fresh dialysis fluid before dialysis treatment. Concentrations of MeIQx in dialysates ranged from 14 to 32 pM. The mean absolute contents of MeIQx in dialysates (6 to 40 liters) was 334 p mole. These results indicate that the carcinogenic heterocyclic amine is present in the plasma of all patients with uremia.