Urinary 3-hydroxyproline in renal disease

The renal excretion of 3-hydroxyproline (3-HYP), an isomer of 4-hydroxyproline (4-HYP) found 6-10 times more in basement membrane collagen than in interstitial collagen, was investigated in control subjects and in 58 adult patients with various kidney diseases. With the exception of polykystic renal disease, all the nephropathies were investigated by renal biopsy. In normal adult subjects urinary 3-HYP was 12.5 +/- 3.5 (SD) mumol/24 h, 4-HYP 226 +/- 62 mumol/24 h and the percentage ratio 3-HYP/4-HYP 5.5 +/- 0.5. This ratio was twice as little during growth because of a relative excess of 4-HYP. In patients with acute glomerular disease (acute and subacute glomerulonephritis, lupus nephritis...) (n = 13) 3-HYP was 17.1 +/- 5.8 mumol/24 h (p less than 0.01 when compared with the normal) and 4-HYP 234 +/- 77 mumol/24 h. The ratio between the two values was 7.3 +/- 0.7 (p less than 0.001). Such an increase in 3-HYP was not observed in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (n = 24) where 3-HYP was 9.6 +/- 5.7 mumol/24 h and 3-HYP/4-HYP 6.0 +/- 1.6, neither in patients with diabetic glomerulonephritis (n = 6). In chronic interstitial nephritis (n = 8) the 3-HYP/4-HYP ratio was decreased with the exception of polykystic renal diseases (PKD), where it was increased (p less than 0.001). The daily urinary contents of 3-HYP and 4-HYP were slightly altered by renal insufficiency. In glomerulonephritis with nephrotic syndrome whatever the histological lesions, urinary 3-HYP did not change significantly. These preliminary results indicate that urinary 3-HYP (1) is increased when glomerulonephritis is clinically acute or subacute; (2) is increased in PKD suggesting a possible inborn error of collagen metabolism.