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Increased urinary nitrite excretion in children with minimal change nephrotic syndrome
H Trachtman1, B Gauthier, R Frank
1Department of Pediatrics, Schneider Children's Hospital, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, New York, USA.
Objective:
We tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide synthesis by the kidney is increased in children with primary nephrotic syndrome.
Methods:
We examined the urinary excretion of nitrite, a stable metabolite of nitric oxide, using the Griess reaction, in children with nephrotic syndrome.
Results:
In comparison with healthy children, patients with minimal change nephrotic syndrome had increased urinary nitrite excretion regardless of whether the disease was in relapse or remission (p < 0.025). In contrast, urinary nitrite excretion was similar in control subjects and patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis or IgA nephropathy.
Conclusion:
These findings indicate that measurement of urinary nitrite excretion may be a useful test to help discriminate between minimal change nephrotic syndrome and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.