Urinary beta-hexosaminidase excretion in polycystic kidney disease.

The urinary excretion of beta-hexosaminidase in relation to creatinine was studied during one year in 30 consecutive patients with polycystic kidney disease (S-creatinine 75-1 000 micro mol/l) and 30 healthy controls. The excretion of beta-hexosaminidase was significantly increased in the patients and was positively correlated to S-creatinine and to the relative increase in S-creatinine during the year of the study. No correlation was found between the enzyme excretion and age, mean blood pressure, number of antihypertensive drugs, proteinuria or pyuria. A significant rise in beta-hexosaminidase excretion was observed in two patients with acute cyst bleeding and/or kidney infarction.