• Kazuhide Ohta, Takuma Fujiki, Tadafumi Yokoyama, Shinji Maeda, Mika Inoue, and Shinobu Sakazume.
• Department of Pediatrics, Kanazawa Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, 1-1 Shimo-Ishibiki, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 920-8650, Japan. ohta.kazuhide.zt@mail.hosp.go.jp.
• Ir J Med Sci. 2023 Oct 1; 192 (5): 250725112507-2511.

BackgroundUrinary levels of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), α1-microglobulin (α1-MG), and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) are measured as markers of renal tubular damage. We previously determined normal values for these urine biochemical examinations in healthy children over 3 years old. However, the values are not applicable to children younger than 2 years old, and children less than 1 year old, in particular, seem to show very high levels for all these markers. Hence, as normal values for children below 2 years old remain unclear, we determined the normal values for urinary biochemical markers in this age group.Material And MethodsFresh urine samples were obtained from 293 healthy children (from newborns to 2-year-old children). All the samples were subjected to normal urinalysis. NAG, α1-MG, β2-MG, and creatinine (Cr) levels in extracted samples were measured immediately in the central laboratory at Kanazawa Medical Center.ResultsThe normal values for each biomarker in children below 2 years of age were determined. Additionally, urinary α1-MG levels were observed to decrease most rapidly with age, almost reaching the level at ≥ 3 years by 6 months after birth.ConclusionRenal tubular function can be evaluated in children < 3 years old using the normal values. Further, the most stable and useful urinary marker from early infancy seems to be urinary α1-MG.© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland.

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