Background: The aim of this study is to establish a relationship between critical ischemia of the lower limb and kidney dysfunction.
Materials and methods: At rest, urine samples were collected from three groups: group A, 16 patients with critical ischemia; group B, 22 patients with stable intermittent claudication; and group C, 12 normal individuals. Urinary N-acetyle-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) enzyme was measured using spectrophotometer. Microalbuminuria was measured by radioimmunoassay.
Results: There was a significant difference in the NAG activity between groups A and B, P = 0.001. Also, between group A and C, P = 0.01. There was no significant difference between groups B and C, P = 0.13. Microalbuminuria was not significantly different among the three groups: A versus B, P = 0.27; A versus C, P = 0.22; B versus C, P = 0.11.
Conclusions: Elevated levels of NAG enzyme in patients with critical ischemia of the lower limb suggest that they are at greater risk of developing kidney dysfunction. This could be caused by the release of more free radicals into the systemic circulation.