[Urinary excretion of N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase in patients with urological disease: with special reference to hydronephrosis].

Activity of urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) has been studied in patients with urological diseases. In most patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate cancer and bladder cancer, activity of urinary NAG was elevated (92.9%), especially in cases of indwelling catheterization or poor visualization of IVU. Urinary NAGs were also elevated for all patients with renal stones, ureter stones, uretero-cutaneous stomy or a single kidney. In hydronephrosis or hydronephrosis with hydroureter patients, urinary NAG level was low pre-operatively, but increased post-operatively. Urinary beta 2-microglobulin (BMG) showed a similar tendency in patients with hydronephrosis or hydronephrosis with hydroureter. Electronmicroscopic observations of the kidney in such patients revealed many primary and secondary lysosomes.