Effect of human lysozyme (muramidase) on potassium handling by the perfused rat kidney. A mechanism for renal damage in human monocytic leukaemia.

Purified human lysozyme (muramidase) stimulated potassium excretion by the isolated perfused rat kidney. Lysozyme is filtered and reabsorbed, without a tubular maximum. Over 90% of lysozyme filtered is retained within the kidney; 50% was recovered by enzymic assay and histologically localized to the proximal tubular cells. Hypokalaemia seen in some patients with myelomonocytic leukaemia may be directly attributed to an elevated circulating lysozyme level.