SERUM AND URINE N-ACETYL-BETA-D-GLUCOSAMINIDASE IN DIABETICS ON DIAGNOSIS AND SUBSEQUENT TREATMENT, AND STABLE INSULIN DEPENDENT DIABETICS

N-Acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) activity has been measured in the serum and urine of diabetics. Results have shown significantly higher levels of serum NAG in newly diagnosed diabetics (945 ± 372 units/ml) compared to non-diabetic controls (668 ± 225, p < 0.005) and the levels were reduced by treatment (778 ± 218, p < 0.05). Changes occurred in the same direction when urinary NAG was measured falling from a mean of 572 ± 298 units/mg urinary creatinine, on diagnosis to 291 ± 176 after treatment (p < 0.005), as compared with 177 ± 86 in non-diabetic controls. Established insulin-treated diabetics had a urinary NAG activity of 461 ± 440 and a serum NAG activity of 790 ± 245. No correlation was found between urine NAG activity and urine glucose (r = 0.315), or serum NAG and serum glucose (r = 0.273). An assessment of this enzyme is made in relation to early microangiopathy. © 1979.