Urinary enzyme measurements in the diagnosis of renal disorders

In view of Mattenheimer's comprehensive review of enzymes in renal disease in this journal only four years ago, major emphasis has been placed at the recent Symposium on Diagnostic Significance of Enzymes and Proteins in Urine held at Kanderstag, Switzerland in March of 1978. The pathophysiology of enzyme release in renal disease is presented, the current status of enzyme measurement reviewed, and the laboratory findings in several main types of renal disease summarized. While the measurement of selected urinary enzymes has been found extremely useful in specific situations, most investigators agree that routine screening is not warranted at this time. Newer developments in the measurement of isoenzyme patterns hold promise of introducing increased diagnostic specificity and appear to be the wave of the future.