The binding characteristics of chlorophenoxyisobutyric acid (CPIB) to serum proteins has been studied in 10 chronically uremic patients and 9 healthy subjects using the technique of equilibrium dialysis. Scatchard analysis of the results indicated a significant decrease in association constants for low as well as for high affinity sites. The number of binding sites however was not diminished thus suggesting the presence of competitive inhibitors. Such inhibitors were dializable, at least in part, as demonstrated by in vivo-hemodialysis and in vitro-dialysis experiments. The in vivo administration of 50 mg heparin intravenously led to a striking increase in the unbound fraction of serum CPIB whereas the addition of 10 IU/ml heparin in vitro induced no change of protein binding which is in favor of only an indirect effect of heparin. In conclusion, CPIB binding to serum proteins of chronically uremic patients as compared to normal volunteers was decreased leading to an increase of its unbound circulating fraction. The observed change of protein binding appeared to be due to the presence of competitive inhibitors in uremic serum.