MEASUREMENT OF URINARY ENDOTHELIN-1-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY AND COMPARISON WITH OTHER URINARY PARAMETERS IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY VESICOURETERAL REFLUX - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

By using a radioimmunoassay specific for endothelin-1 (ET-1), we measu red urinary excretion of ET-1-like immunoreactivity in 63 spot urine s amples of 48 patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Urinar y excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), beta(2)-microglo bulin (beta(2)-MG), microalbumin (Alb), and creatinine (Cr) were also measured. There was no significant correlation in any pairs of ET-1 an d NAG, ET-1 and beta(2)-MG or ET-1 and Alb. In patients with grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 WR, urinary ET-1/Cr was significantly higher than normal (p < 0.05). Comparing the grade of reflux according to the Int ernational Classification with urinary ET-1/Cr, the ratio of more than normal urinary ET-1/Cr increased in proportion to the grade of reflux , but it conversely decreased in grade 5. In conclusion, urinary ET-1 may be an indicator of distal renal tubular or collecting duct injury in patients with primary VUR.