Protein-bound uremic retention solutes are increasingly recognized to play a role in the pathophysiology of the uremic syndrome. Numerous in vitro findings are indicative for their implication in the biochemical and physiological changes of uremia. Several of these protein-bound retention solutes originate from bacterial protein fermentation in the colon. p-cresyl sulfate, a fermentation metabolite of the amino acid tyrosine, is considered a prototype of this group of uremic solutes. The protein binding of this molecule was shown to be about 90% in end-stage renal disease patients. Several data have suggested that p-cresol plays a role in the immunodeficiency of uremia. Recently, a link between the molecule and endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated. Also other members of the class of protein-bound solutes have been found to be associated with immune dysfunction, endothelial cell dysfunction and, closely related to the latter, oxidative stress.

Free serum levels of p-cresol were shown to be greater in stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients treated with hemodialysis (HD) hospitalized for infectious disease. Furthermore, a positive relationship was found between serum total p-cresol level and a uremic symptom score in patients treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD), whereas a correlation with small water-soluble solutes and the middle molecule β2-microglobulin was absent. A recent prospective observational study in stage 5 CKD patients treated with conventional HD (3 x 4 hours per week) indicated that the accumulation of p-cresol is a risk factor for overall mortality.

Data on the serum concentrations of p-cresol in chronic kidney disease patients are lacking. We hypothesise that the serum concentration of p-cresol is an independent predictor of progression to end stage renal disease and is an independent predictor for cardiovascular disease.