Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (U-NAG) activity in children with vesicoureteral reflux.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to measure U-NAG in children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and examine the relationship between selected clinical parameters.


BACKGROUND
U-NAG/creatinine ratio is a marker of renal tubular impairment and an increase in this ratio have been reported to affect the kidneys in various diseases.


METHODS
The U-NAG/creatinine ratio was measured in the spot urine of 22 children (10 boys and 12 girls, mean age 2.83 +/- 2.42 years) with VUR. In 8 patients The VUR was unilateral grade I-IV (8 patients), and it was was bilateral, grade I-V in 14 patients. In patients with bilateral reflux and different VUR grade on each side, the highest grade of VUR was taken into consideration.


RESULTS
The U-NAG/Cr levels were significantly higher in VUR patients compared to the reference (p = 0.0001). There was no difference in U-NAG/Cr between children with unilateral (n = 8) and bilateral (n = 14) VUR (p = 0.66). There was no difference in U-NAG/Cr between patients with VUR grades I-III and IV-V (p = 0.67). The U-NAG/Cr activity was higher in patients with reflux nephropathy (RN; n = 9) when compared to reference data (p = 0.0001), however there was no difference in comparison to children without RN (p = 0.84).


CONCLUSIONS
U-NAG/Cr increased in children with VUR grade I-V and there is a very weak relationship with the grade of VUR. U-NAG/Cr is a useful marker of renal tubular impairment, however there is poor relationship with the degree of kidney damage in patients with VUR (Tab. 1, Ref. 25). Full Text (Free, PDF) www.bmj.sk.
Skalova
S
S
Department of Paediatrics, Charles University in Prague, Faculty of Medicine, Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic. skalova.s@seznam.cz
Rejtar
P
P
Kutilek
S
S
D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*
D003404:Creatinine; D000118:Acetylglucosaminidase