Microalbuminuria and β <sub>2</sub>-microglobulinuria in children with vesicoureteral reflux and reflux nephropathy
The urinary levels of microalbumin and β2-microglobulin were determined in 71 patients aged 1 to 14 years with vesicoureteral reflux. According to the degree of reflux nephropathy as evidenced by dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) scintigraphy, the patients were divided into 3 groups: 9 patients without reflux nephropathy (Group 2); 41 with mild reflux nephropathy (Group 3); and 21 with severe reflux nephropathy (Group 4). A control group (Group 1) consisted of 29 healthy children without a history of kidney disease. Microalbumin and β2-microglobulin from the morning urine portions were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and recalculated with reference to urinary creatinine. A relationship was found between the urinary levels of proteins and the severity of reflux nephropathy. There was a significant rise in urinary microalbumin and β2-microglobulin excretion levels in severe reflux nephropathy. This permits the use of this study in patients with reflux nephropathy as a diagnostic marker of its severity.