Related Experiment Videos
Urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion in urolithiasis
T Akçay1, D Konukoğlu, Y Dínçer
1Department of Biochemistry, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Turkey.
Insights
Children with idiopathic urolithiasis excrete significantly lower amounts of urinary glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). This finding suggests reduced GAG excretion may play a role in pediatric kidney stone formation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Urology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Idiopathic urolithiasis is a common condition in children.
- Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are important components of the urinary tract lining.
- Altered GAG excretion has been implicated in urolithiasis in adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) excretion levels in children diagnosed with idiopathic urolithiasis.
- To compare GAG excretion in affected children with that of healthy pediatric controls.
- To determine the potential role of urinary GAGs in the pathogenesis of pediatric kidney stones.
Main Methods:
- Urinary GAG excretion was quantified in 25 children with idiopathic urolithiasis and 24 healthy controls.
- The GAG/creatinine ratio (mg/g) was measured using the dimethylmethylene blue assay.
- Data were analyzed to compare excretion levels between the patient and control groups.
Main Results:
- Healthy children exhibited a mean GAG/creatinine ratio of 31.67 (SD 12.76), with no significant sex difference.
- Children with idiopathic urolithiasis showed significantly lower mean GAG/creatinine ratios (22.59, SD 7.35).
- This indicates a marked reduction in urinary GAG excretion in pediatric stone formers.
Conclusions:
- Reduced urinary glycosaminoglycan excretion is significantly associated with idiopathic urolithiasis in children.
- These findings suggest that urinary GAGs may be a contributing factor in the development of kidney stones in pediatric patients.
- Further research into GAG metabolism could offer novel therapeutic targets for pediatric urolithiasis.
Abstract:
Urinary glycosaminoglycan (GAG) excretion was measured in children with idiopathic urolithiasis (15 girls and 10 boys; mean (SD) age 6.2 (2.4) years) and in healthy controls (10 girls and 14 boys; mean (SD) age 6.8 (3.8) years). GAG excretion was expressed as a GAG/creatinine (mg/g) ratio and was evaluated using dimethylmethylene blue. In healthy control children, the mean (SD) GAG/creatinine ratio was 31.67 (12.76) and it was similar in girls and boys. The children with idiopathic urolithiasis had significantly lower mean (SD) GAG/creatinine ratios than controls (22.59 (7.35)). Therefore, urinary GAG excretion may be important in the disease process in children with urolithiasis, as it is in adults.