The British Journal of Rheumatology, Vol 36, 59-63, Copyright © 1997 by British Society for Rheumatology
P Wiland, J Swierkot and J Szechinski
The N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) activities and albumin levels in
the urine of 32 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis treated with
low-dose pulse methotrexate (MTX) have been investigated. An increase in
NAG urinary excretion was more frequent than the incidence of micro- or
macroalbuminuria on entry, and during treatment with MTX. There was also a
significant decrease in NAG levels observed at week 24. Parameters such as
patient's age, time from onset, previous and current treatment did not
allow us to predict the degree of NAG enzymuria. We conclude that MTX does
not cause marked damage to renal proximal tubules; on the contrary, the
observed significant decrease of urinary NAG on week 24 could be
interpreted as a beneficial effect of MTX on kidney function. Early
detection of high NAG enzymuria and elevated albumin levels in urine before
the initiation of MTX therapy could be helpful in predicting possible MTX
toxicity probably related to impaired renal clearance of MTX. Patients
withdrawn from the study for non-renal-related adverse events also had an
unusually large increase in urine NAG activity and urine albumin levels.
ORIGINAL PAPERS
N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase urinary excretion as an early indicator of kidney dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients on low-dose methotrexate treatment
Institute of Rheumatology, Medical Academy, Wroclaw, Poland.
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