The fluorescence excitation and emission spectra observed in plasma from patients with chronic renal failure were reproduced by the generation of soluble lipofuscins in normal plasma samples by incubation with mixtures of L-dopa, dopamine, L-norepinephrine, L-epinephrine, 3-hydroxy-DL-kynurenine and 3-hydroxy-anthranilic acid for 24 h at 37 degrees C. Relative fluorescence intensity measurements consistently showed elevated plasma levels of the soluble lipofuscins in chronic renal failure: the means (n = 27) were 73.9 +/- 33.4 (SD) and 71.1 +/- 14.8 at emissions 413 nm and 445 nm respectively, in contrast to those of normal plasma samples (n = 11), 18.2 +/- 5.3 and 23.1 +/- 5.6. The maximum or shoulder at approximately 413 nm represents soluble lipofuscin that can be generated from 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid and the maximum or shoulder at approximately 445 nm represents soluble lipofuscins derived from the precursors listed above and probably from other related precursors. Gravimetric measurements also showed elevated levels of melanins in the plasma samples of patients with chronic renal failure: 2.72 +/- 0.38 mg/ml (n = 16), as compared to normal values: 1.70 +/- 0.10 mg/ml (n = 6). In individual patients haemodialysis reduced the fluorescence intensities to a range of 65-99% and the melanin levels to a range of 86-99% of the pre-dialysis values.