ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of measurement of beta2 microglobulin (beta2 MG), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) of spot urine samples as indices of renal tubular damage and microalbumin of spot urine samples as a parameter of glomerular damage in children with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) or renal defects. METHODS: We studied 91 children with previous UTI. The children were classified as 62 children without VUR and renal defects (group I), 10 children with VUR, without renal defects (group II), and 19 children with VUR and renal defects (group III). Patients having VUR were separated according to the degree of VUR (mild VUR: VUR grade I-III, severe VUR: VUR grade IV-V). Urinary excretion of beta2 microglobulin (beta2 MG), microalbumin, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), creatinine were measured in samples of morning urine specimens. Children with VUR or renal defects detected by voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) and DMSA renal scan were investigated. RESULTS: Microalbumin/Cr ratio of spot urine was significantly increased in group III compared group I (42.3+/-27.2 mg/gCr vs 25.2+/-10.9 mg/gCr, P<0.05). NAG/Cr ratio of spot urine was significantly increased in group II compared group I (3.70+/-23.4 mg/gCr vs 18.7+/-12.7 mg/gCr, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference of beta2 MG/Cr ratio among three groups. CONCLUSION: Urinary microalbumin excretion of morning urine sample may be a simple and reliable clinical indicators for early identification of renal damage in children with VUR and renal defects. Urinary microalbumin excretion may be useful marker to predict the the severity of VUR.