[Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in acute pyelonephritis patients with spinal cord injuries]

The urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities were determined in acute pyelonephritis patients with spinal cord injuries. The urinary NAG activity was significantly elevated in 23 of 31 cases (74%) compared with normal controls. Out of 7 acute pyelonephritis patients without spinal cord injuries, 4 patients (57%) showed significantly elevated urinary NAG activities. The urinary NAG activities were within normal range in 20 patients with acute simple cystitis and 11 patients with chronic complicated cystitis. Out of 6 patients with urethritis, only one case (17%) showed a significantly higher level of urinary NAG activity. Significantly higher levels in urinary NAG activities were observed in 6 of 9 patients (67%) with acute prostatitis and 5 of 9 patients (56%) with acute epididymitis. In patients with spinal cord injuries, having frequent urinary tract infections and complicated pathophysiological conditions, urinary NAG is one of the helpful laboratory findings for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis.