The Role of Urinary N-acetyl Beta-D-glucosaminidase in Children with Urological Problems

To assess urinary NAG/ urinary creatinine (NAG/ Cr) ratio in patients with urological abnormalities (normal and abnormal ultrasonography) and compare it with normal healthy children.

A prospective study was conducted from November 2012 to April 2013. Urine samples were collected from 70 patients with various urological abnormalities, and from 40 healthy control groups, their age range (1 month-13 years). Children who were admitted to Emergency Pediatric department, Children Welfare Teaching Hospital / Medical City Complex, Baghdad, Iraq. The Glomerular filtration rate was in normal range in all of them. Urine samples were tested for NAG by (ELISA, Cusabio, China) while, both Serum creatinine (S-Cr) and urine creatinine (U-Cr) were estimated by Jaffe's kinetic method.

In this study 29% of the patients had normal ultrasonography and 72% abnormal ultrasonography. The current results revealed that NAG/creatinine index was significantly higher in all patients with (vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis and pyelonephritis) in comparison with cystitis.

The assessment of urinary NAG could be considered as a useful marker in prediction of the (vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis) .Urinary NAG is elevated in children with pyelonephritis and it can be considered as a further criterion in the diagnosis of upper urinary tract infection.