[Serum and urine lysozyme in chronic pyelonephritis and chronic glomerulonephritis]

In 130 patients with chronic pyelonephritis and 215 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis the serum lysozyme content was established and in 114 and 186, respectively, the enzyme content of their urine tests. Moreover the lysozyme measurement in the serum of 28 patients undergoing haemodialysis was performed. A collective of 50 healthy persons served as comparative group. The lysozyme estimation was performed by means of the agar-diffusion technique after Ossermann and Lawlor in own modification. The average serum lysozyme levels of the patients with pyelonephritis (mean =7.3 micrograms/ml) as well as of the patients with glomerulonephritis (mean = 5.7 micrograms/ml) were significantly increased in contrast to the control group (mean = 4.5 micrograms/ml). Differences could be recognized between the various forms of glomerulonephritis. 34.2% of the patients with pyelonephritis and 37.1% of the patients with glomerulonephritis showed a lysozymuria. In functional restrictions of the kidneys as well as in active forms of the diseases increased concentrations in serum and urine could be established.