CORRELATION BETWEEN URINARY ACTIVITY OF N-ACETYL-B-D-GLUCOSAMINIDASE (NAG) AND ALBUMIN EXCRETION RATE IN TYPE II (NON INSULIN-DEPENDENT) DIABETICS SUBJECTS.

There is much evidence suggesting 10 11·13 16·18 that a daily urinary albumin • • xcretion greater than normal but not detectable by standard urine test, tnerally referred to as microalbuminuria, is an early indication of glomerular =:.amage in diabetic patients which can be sometimes reversed by strict metabol­ :.: controP. It is also known that in different kinds of kidney disease one can ::':Jserve an increased urinary activity ofN-acetyl- -D-glucosaminidase (NAG; EC ;_ _1.30)5• 15·19 which is a lysosomal enzyme involved in glycoprotein metabolism 21td whose serum and/ or urinary levels are often raised in diabetic subjects, expecially in case of poor metabolic controP·6·8· 14. In view of these data we :=:eueved it interesting to compare in the present study urinary NAG levels and a.Gumin excretion rate (AER), in a group of type II diabetic patients without -"!nical evidence of kidney disease, in order to clarify if NAG activity can also e considered a useful index for the early diagnosis of impaired renal function ::m these subjects.