Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) excretion in women with pregnancy complicated with hypertension
Semczuk-Sikora, A.; Sikora, P.ła.; Biaduń, U.; Semczuk, M.
Ginekologia Polska 74(10): 1269-1275
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-0011 PMID: 14669429 Document Number: 557944
Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are one of the major mortality risk factors for mother and fetus. Although pathomechanisms of hypertension are extreme complex, the involvement of kidneys usually occurs. N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is a lysosomal enzyme which is located in renal tubular cells. Therefore an elevation of urinary NAG activity serves as a marker of tubular cell damage. Evaluation of renal tubular damage in pregnant women with different types of hypertension by determination of urinary NAG activity. The study comprised 84 pregnant women in third trimester, divided according to type of hypertension into 3 subgroups: pregnancy induced hypertension (n = 58), preeclampsia (n = 13) and chronic hypertension (n = 13). The control group comprised 36 healthy pregnant women. Urinary NAG activity was measured in the second morning urine samples by colorimetric method and the results were expressed as NAG/creatinine ratios (NAG/Cr). The highest NAG/Cr ratios were found in women with preeclampsia (median-1.520 U/mmol) and in women with pregnancy induced hypertension (median-0.874 U/mmol) and both results differed significantly from those in controls (median-0.782 U/mmol). There was slight positive correlation between NAG/Cr ratios and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.225, p < 0.05). Hypertension in pregnancy may lead to renal tubular damage, however clinical significance of this phenomenon requires further studies.