Study of increased urinary nitrite excretion as a diagnostic marker for minmal change nephrotic syndrome

ABSTRACT

Urinary excretion of nitrite [a stable metabolite of nitric oxide] was estimated in children with nephrotic syndrome and healthy children as a control group. Urinary nitrite level was significantly increased in patients with nephrotic syndrome when compared with control group [p < 0.001]. It was significantly higher in patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome than control group [p < 0.0001]. In contrast it showed no significant change in patients with non minimal change nephrotic syndrome when compared to control group [p > 0.05]. No significant difference could be detected in urinary nitrite level between the attack and remission in patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome. We concluded that estimation of urinary nitrite level can be considered as a diagnostic marker for minimal change nephrotic syndrome. It is an easy rapid and non invasive test to discriminate it from other causes of nephrotic syndrome