SIALIC-ACID IN CHILDHOOD RENAL DISEASES - CORRELATION WITH CLINICAL AND LABORATORY INDEXES

There are many kinds of glycoproteins that have sialic acid residues a nd it has been reported that these are elevated in some renal diseases and their significance in the pathogenesis of several renal diseases has been investigated. In the present study the serum and urine levels of sialic acid were measured in healthy controls and in children with either poststreptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) or minimal change nephrotic syndrome (MCNS) to test if there is any correlation w ith clinical and laboratory indices. In PSAGN and MCNS patients the se rum and urine sialic acid concentrations at onset and relapse were sig nificantly different from healthy controls (Mann-Whitney U-test P < 0. 005). There was not a significant correlation between the clinical sev erity, serum creatinine and complement C-3 levels and serum sialic aci d concentrations in PSAGN patients. Also there was not a significant c orrelation between edema, serum albumin, IgG, transferrin, alpha-1-ant itrypsin and serum sialic acid concentrations in MCNS patients. Althou gh high serum and urine sialic acid levels were found in both PSAGN an d MCNS patients, it does not have any clinical significance nor is it important as a diagnostic or prognostic marker.