Significance of Random Urine β<sub>2</sub>-Microglobulin as a Marker for Vesico-ureteral Reflux in Children with Urinary Tract Infection

Kim, Ji-Hong; Kim, Pyung-Kil

J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol > Volume 3(1); > Article

요로감염 환자에서 방광요관역류의 지표로서 무작위 추출뇨중 β₂-microglobulin의 의의

김지홍, 김병길

¹연세대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실 및 신장질환연구소
²연세대학교 의과대학 소아과학교실 및 신장질환연구소

Significance of Random Urine β₂-Microglobulin as a Marker for Vesico-ureteral Reflux in Children with Urinary Tract Infection

Ji-Hong Kim, Pyung-Kil Kim

¹Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Kidney Disease, Yonsei University, College of Medicine
²Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Kidney Disease, Yonsei University, College of Medicine

ABSTRACT

Renal scarring associated with vesico-ureteral reflux(VUR) is one of the major causes of end stage renal failure and renal hypertension in children. Urinary β₂-microglobulin(MG) has been suggested as a potential marker for presence of renal tubular damage. This study was designed to evaluate the significance of random urine β₂-MG as a predictor of presence of vesico-ureteral reflux in children with urinary tract infection(UTI). 57 children with urinary tract infection were studied. Patients were devided into two groups; 35(78.9%) children have UTI without VUR and 12(21.1%) children have UTI and VUR. Beta2-MG and creatinine in random urine sample was measured to decide the excretion ratio(β₂-MG/creatinine). Among the 57 children with UTI, 44 children were confirmed by urine culture study and 13 children suspected by compatible clinical feature. Random urine β₂-MG of VUR group (2.2+/-5.91 mg/L) were significantly higher than that of simple UTI group(0.19+/-0.16mg/L)(P=0.03). The β₂-MG/creatinine ratio of VUR group(32.41+/-25.7) were significantly higher than that of simple UTI group(3.93+/-3.44)(P=0.007). In conclusion, random urine β₂-MG and excretion ratio deserved early predictor of presence of VUR in children with UTI. And this method was more simple and inexpensive than the method of measuring β₂-MG with 24 hour urine collection, so might be a useful screening test for VUR in children with UTI.

Key words: Urinary tract infection | Vesico-ureteral reflux | Random urine β₂-microglobulin