N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and albuminuria in normal and diabetic pregnancies.

Fourteen diabetic women without signs of nephropathy were examined during pregnancy. Serum fructosamine concentration indicating short-term metabolic control of diabetes was normalized at the beginning of the second trimester and was within the normal limits till the delivery. A gradual increase of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity in serum and urine has been found during pregnancy in diabetic and healthy women. No significant differences of N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activities were observed between the above groups. A successive increase of albuminuria during pregnancy was present in diabetic and healthy women with about 10-times higher values at delivery. A significant positive correlation was observed between albuminuria and urinary NAG activity in both groups of pregnant women (r = 0.77). We did not find any deterioration in N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activities and albuminuria in seven diabetic women one year after delivery.