[Monitoring indexes for early renal injury in the workers exposed to mercury].
OBJECTIVE
To study the diagnostic method for early renal injury in the workers exposed to mercury (Hg).


METHODS
The contents of urinary Hg were determined by chemical method. Urinary microalbumin (mALB), beta(2)-microglodulin (beta(2)-MG) and retinol binding protein (RBP) levels were measured with total quantitative enzyme immunoassay. The activities of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) were determined by rate methods. Urinary creatinine (Cr) was measured by using picric acid method.


RESULTS
The levels of urinary BRP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT in exposed workers [(439.7 +/- 201.4), (141.4 +/- 56.3) micro g/g Cr and (12.3 +/- 5.7), (60.3 +/- 18.5) U/g Cr respectively] were significantly higher than those in controls (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). The levels were increased gradually with the increasing contents of urinary Hg. The positive detection rate for single or two combined indexes was rather lower whereas that for 4 combined indexes was as high as 85.5%. A positive correlation was noted between the contents of urinary Hg and urinary BRP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT (r: 0.466, 0.379, 0.323, 0.311, P < 0.05). Urinary RBP was correlated to urinary beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT (r: 0.362, 0.354, 0.332, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Combined detection of urinary RBP, beta(2)-MG, NAG and gamma-GT is a sensitive method for the diagnosis of early renal injury in the workers exposed to Hg.
Peng
Shan-zhuo
SZ
Shenyang No. 9th People's Hospital, Shenyang 110024, China.
Zhang
Chun-sheng
CS
Hu
Yuan
Y
Zhang
Jie
J
Wei
Mingzhi
M
Liu
Lu
L
Wang
Ying
Y
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000652:urine; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000293:injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008630:Mercury Poisoning / Q000150:complications*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins / Q000652:urine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000652:urine
D012177:Retinol-Binding Proteins; D003404:Creatinine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase