BackgroundDiabetic nephropathy is a clinical diagnosis where proteinuria is present in a patient with diabetes. Early intervention can significantly improve the prognosis. However, imprecision of the currently available biomarkers have impaired effective therapies in a timely manner. Urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) is excreted in abnormally high amounts in many renal diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate urinary NAG as an early biomarker in detection of diabetic nephropathy and whether it parallels the severity of kidney damage in different stages of diabetic nephropathy.MethodsFifty patients with type 2 DM were classified into 3 groups (normoalbuminurea, microalbuminurea and macroalbuminurea) and 10 healthy subjects served as a control group. Urinary NAG, albumin and creatinine were measured. Blood urea, serum creatinine, serum albumin, total proteins, serum cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), fasting and postprandial blood glucose, HbA1c and creatinine clearance were measured for all subjects.ResultsAll diabetic patients had a significantly higher level of urinary NAG compared to control. NAG value increased in parallel with the severity of renal involvement.ConclusionUrinary NAG expresses the degree of renal impairment in diabetic nephropathy.

Background: SLE is a complex autoimmune disease with heterogenous clinical manifestations and disease course, Nephritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with lupus. Many clinical parameters and laboratory markers can be used to evaluate disease activity. NLR is positively associated with inflammatory disorders.Objectives: Is to evaluate the Neutrophil Lymphocytic ratio (NLR) as a reliable predictive and prognostic marker in systemic lupus erythematosus.Methods: The present study was carried out on 60 patients and 20 healthy individuals as controls. Patients were classified into: Group I: 40 SLE patients with active disease, which was sub divided into two subgroups: Group IA included thirty SLE patients with LN and Group IB included ten SLE patients with active disease without nephritis. Group II: 20 SLE patients with inactive disease. Group III: 20 apparently healthy volunteers as controls. CBC, serum creatinine, ESR, CRP, ANA, Anti-ds DNA, C3, C4, 24-hour protein in urine and urine analysis were done to all participants.Results: The NLR of SLE patients was significantly higher compared to that of the controls. Furthermore, SLE patients with nephritis had higher NLR levels than those without nephritis. Conclusion:NLR is a useful, simple and bed side inflammatory marker for assessment of disease activity in patients with SLE. Also, NLR is a promising predictor of lupus nephritis.