N-ACETYL-BETA-D-GLUCOSAMINIDASE EXCRETION IN PATIENTS WITH UNILATERALRENAL AGENESIS OR NEPHRECTOMY IN CHILDHOOD

Renal functional impairment due to the damaging effect of hyperfiltrat ion of the remnant kidney was evaluated in patients who had been unine phrectomized in childhood or had unilateral agenesis. Sixteen patients (8 male, 8 female) a mean of 7.1 years (1-26 years) postnephrectomy w ere evaluated. Blood pressure values, clearances of creatinine (Ccr) a nd phosphorus (Cp), urine osmolality, total protein excretion and NAG (N-acetyl-beta-d-glucosaminidase) excretion were determined. Ccr value s were slightly but not significantly lower (90.390 +/- 11.223 ml/min) than those of control subjects (110.818 +/- 7.755 ml/min). Daily urin ary protein excretion adjusted for body surface was significantly high er in the study group (p < 0.05). Urinary NAG excretion measured with a spectrophotometric method and described as the Cr ratio was signific antly higher in the patients than the control subjects (p < 0.05). It was concluded that the damaging effects of hyperperfusion not only inv olve the glomerulus but also the proximal and distal tubulus.