Urinary biomarker N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase can predict severity of renal damage in diabetic nephropathy

BACKGROUND: Diabetic nephropathy is a clinical diagnosis where proteinuria is present in a patient with diabetes. Early intervention can significantly improve the prognosis. However, imprecision of the currently available biomarkers have impaired effective therapies in a timely manner. Urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is excreted in abnormally high amounts in many renal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate urinary NAG as an early biomarker in detection of diabetic nephropathy and whether it parallels the severity of kidney damage in different stages of diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: Fifty patients with type 2 DM were classified into 3 groups (normoalbuminurea, microalbuminurea and macroalbuminurea) and 10 healthy subjects served as a control group. Urinary NAG, albumin and creatinine were measured. Blood urea, serum creatinine, serum albumin, total proteins, serum cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fasting and postprandial blood glucose, HbA1c and creatinine clearance were measured for all subjects. RESULTS: All diabetic patients had a significantly higher level of urinary NAG compared to control. NAG value increased in parallel with the severity of renal involvement. CONCLUSION: Urinary NAG expresses the degree of renal impairment in diabetic nephropathy.