Measurement of urinary endothelin-1-like immunoreactivity and comparison with other urinary parameters in patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux : a preliminary report

By using a radioimmunoassay specific for endothelin-1 (ET-1), we measured urinary excretion of ET-1-like immunoreactivity in 63 spot urine samples of 48 patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Urinary excretion of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), β 2 -microglobulin (β 2 -MG), microalbumin (Alb), and creatinine (Cr) were also measured. There was no significant correlation in any pairs of ET-1 and NAG, ET-1 and β 2 -MG or ET-1 and Alb. In patients with grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 VUR, urinary ET-1/Cr was significantly higher than normal (p<0.05)