Elsevier

Clinica Chimica Acta

Volume 126, Issue 1, 24 November 1982, Pages 1-7
Clinica Chimica Acta

Comparison of retinol-binding protein and β2-microglobulin determination in urine for the early detection of tubular proteinuria

https://doi.org/10.1016/0009-8981(82)90356-4Get rights and content

Abstract

The specificity, sensitivity and stability of β2-microglobulin (β2-m) and retinolbinding protein (RBP) in urine as indices of tubular proteinuria were compared. In vitro experiments show that RBP in urine is stable down to pH 4.5, whereas β2-m degrades below pH 5.5. This was confirmed by the relationships between pH and the concentration of both proteins in the urines from 150 healthy subjects. Urinary RBP was independent of pH (r = 0.125) but in contrast at pH below 6, β2-m concentration was inversely correlated with pH (r = 0.54, p < 0.05). The comparison of urinary excretion of RBP and β2-m in 68 patients with renal diseases shows that in absence of a pH effect, the sensitivity and specificity of both proteins as indices of tubular proteinuria are rather similar. Therefore, in view of its greater stability in urine, RBP appears to be a more practical and reliable index of proximal tubular function than β2-m.

References (12)

There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

Cited by (0)

View full text