A SIMPLE DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR THE DIFFERENTIATION OF TAMM-HORSFALL GLYCOPROTEINS FROM HEALTHY PROBANDS AND THOSE FROM RECURRENT CALCIUM-OXALATE RENAL STONE FORMERS

Tamm-Horsfall glycoproteins (THPs) from healthy probands, and those f rom a majority of recurrent calcium oxalate renal stone formers, revea l different properties when analyzed using isoelectric focusing. The p l-values of THPs from healthy probands are approximately 3.5 while THP s from recurrent renal stone formers have pl-values between 4.5 and 6. The two groups of THPs exhibit completely different protein patterns in IEF. This proves the structural difference of these THPs. The diffe rences in IEF analysis allow the differentiation between THPs from hea lthy probands and those from recurrent calcium oxalate stone formers. These differences could possibly be used as a simple diagnostic method for the recognition of recurrent calcium oxalate renal stone formers.