Transforming growth factor-beta 1 in Balkan endemic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The aim of this study was to compare plasma and urine transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) levels in patients with different stages of Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) with those in patients with primary glomerulonephritis (GN) and healthy controls.

METHODS

The study involved 47 patients with BEN (30 with manifest BEN and 17 in the early stage of BEN), 12 patients with GN and 10 healthy controls. Plasma and urine TGF-beta1 was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

RESULTS

The median plasma TGF-beta1 levels differed nonsignificantly between the groups (4,908-6,442 pg/ml), but individual plasma TGF-beta1 levels in BEN patients exhibited the highest dispersion. Median urinary TGF-beta1 excretion (pg/mg creatinine) was significantly higher in patient groups (manifest BEN: 203, early-stage BEN: 341, GN: 775) than in healthy controls (42). No correlation was found between plasma and urine TGF-beta1 levels or between plasma TGF-beta1 levels and creatinine clearance for any of the examined groups.

CONCLUSION

Plasma TGF-beta1 levels in BEN patients extended over the widest range, but no significant differences were found between the median values for the groups. Median urinary TGF-beta1 excretion was significantly higher in patients with BEN and GN than in healthy controls.