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[Age-dependent urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity in healthy children]
Insights
This study introduces two new colorimetric methods for measuring urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity in children. NAG levels decrease with age, correlating with increased urinary creatinine concentration.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Clinical Chemistry
- Pediatric Diagnostics
Abstract:
Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase activity was measured in 123 healthy children aged between 1-14 years by two newly developed colorimetric procedures using MNP-GlcNAc and VRA-GlcNAc substrates and was compared to the well established PNP-GlcNAc assay. The enzyme activity was factored with the urinary creatinine concentration and expressed as NAG index. The applicability and the advantages of the new methods are discussed. The NAG values obtained with each substrate decreased with age as a result of a concomitant rise in the urinary creatinine concentration.