[Tubular damage in toxemia of pregnancy using urinary trehalase as a marker]

We proved reversible tubular damage in edema and in toxemia of pregnancy using urinary trehalase as a marker. 1. Urinary trehalase activity in mild toxemia (edema: more than 0.5 kg body weight gain per week) was significantly increased as compared with normal pregnancy (less than 0.5 kg body weight gain per week) (p less than 0.02). Urinary albumin content, however, was not significantly changed with edema. 2. Toxemia of pregnancy showed significantly high urinary trehalase activity, NAG activity and beta 2-MG content as compared with the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Urinary trehalase activity of severe toxemia was significantly higher than that of mild toxemia. Urinary NAG and beta 2-MG showed similar results to urinary trehalase. On the 5th and 30th puerperal days there was significantly lower trehalase activity than in the 3rd trimester. Urinary beta 2-MG in toxemia was significantly decreased at the 30th puerperal day as compared with the 3rd trimester and 5th puerperal day. However, no significant decrease was observed in urinary NAG. 3. Urinary trehalase activity in superimposed toxemia of pregnancy was significantly increased as compared with the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. However, urinary trehalase activity on the 5th puerperal day was significantly decreased, but was still significantly high. These results show that pregnancy with edema and pure toxemia of pregnancy cause renal tubular damage and this damage is reversible. In the stage of edema, no remarkable glomerular damage, but tubular damage could occur.