title: Use of renal enzymes to evaluate nephrotoxicity in lithium treated patients.
abstract: N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminadase (NAG) is a renal enzyme which is an early, sensitive and reliable indicator of renal damage. NAG assays of midstream spot urines were not significantly different in a group of controls when compared to patients starting lithium for the first time, or to a group of patients who had been taking lithium for more than one year. However, a small number of lithium-treated patients may have evidence of renal damage, identifiable by NAG assay.
mesh_terms: D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine*; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D006596:Hexosaminidases / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D008094:Lithium / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D008094:Lithium; D003404:Creatinine; D006596:Hexosaminidases; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase