Seventy-six patients with UPJO and 30 normal children (CTRL) were enrolled in the study. The UPJO patients were divided into obstructive (12), functional (36), and operated (28). Epidermal growth factor, MCP-1, and β2M urinary levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and normalized to urine creatinine.
Urinary β2M and MCP-1 increased significantly in the UPJO groups compared with the CTRL and significantly improved in the operated group. The obstructive group displayed reduced EGF excretion compared with the CTRL group. The urinary (u)EGF/uMCP-1, and uEGF/uβ2M ratios significantly decreased in both untreated groups. In the operated group, these ratios improved significantly.
The present study substantiates the role of urinary EGF, MCP-1, and β2M as markers of tubulointerstitial damage in human obstructive nephropathy. Furthermore, it suggests that surgical intervention is effective in the management of children with UPJO.