N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase: A new approach to the screening of hypertensive patients for renal disease.

Urinary activity of the enzyme, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (N.A.G.) was examined as a screening test for renal disease in patients with hypertension. Renal disease was present in 64% of patients with increased N.A.G., compared with only 14% of patients with normal N.A.G. The measurement of N.A.G. is cheap and convenient and this simple test warrants further assessment in hypertension as a guide to the need for further investigation.