para-aminohippuric acid

Para-aminohippuric acid (PAH), typically administered as aminohippurate sodium, is a diagnostic small molecule used to measure effective renal plasma flow (ERPF). It is filtered by the glomeruli and actively secreted by the proximal tubules, making it a gold-standard physiological probe for renal hemodynamics. In clinical research led by Brigham and Women's Hospital, PAH is utilized to investigate the pathophysiology of hypertension and insulin resistance, specifically focusing on how Caveolin-1 genetic variants influence vascular dysfunction and salt sensitivity. By measuring changes in renal blood flow in response to salt loading and hormonal stimuli like Angiotensin II, researchers use PAH to map the mechanisms of cardiovascular disease.

Brand names

Nephrotest

Other names

Aminohippurate sodium4-aminohippuric acidN-(4-aminobenzoyl)glycine