To determine the diagnostic role of urinary
trehalase in chronic glomerular disease, urinary
trehalase activity and other urinary markers such as
N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG),
alanine aminopeptidase (
AAP),
alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-
GTP),
lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),
lysozyme and
beta 2-microglobulin (BMG) were measured in patients with chronic
glomerulonephritis,
nephrotic syndrome and
chronic renal failure. Urinary
trehalase activity was significantly increased in chronic glomerular disease, especially
nephrotic syndrome, as compared with that in the healthy subjects. The highest incidence of elevated excretion was observed for
trehalase with 52% in chronic glomerular disease, followed by NAG. Urinary
trehalase activities in the patients were significantly correlated with the urinary levels of
protein, NAG and
AAP and total score of tubular damage, but not correlated with urinary levels of BMG or
lysozyme. In patients with chronic
glomerulonephritis and
nephrotic syndrome, there was no significant difference in urinary
trehalase activities between with and without
hematuria. These results indicate that in some patients with chronic glomerular disease, there is tubular involvement as substantiated by elevation of the other urinary
enzymes and BMG. Urinary
trehalase is elevated more often in these types of disease than other markers of tubular damage.