Urinary levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and disease activity in patients with IgA nephropathy

Using a quantitative sandwich ELISA, we studied 17 patients with IgA nephropathy to determine if levels of urinary monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1) might reflect the disease activity. The levels of urinary MCP‐1 in patients with the advanced stage were significantly higher than those in patients with the mild stage of the disease, or in healthy controls. The results showed a significant correlation between the levels of urinary MCP‐1 and the disease activity, i.e., levels of urinary casts and urinary protein. It was thus suggested that the measurement of urinary MCP‐1 is useful in evaluating the degree of renal injuries and/or prognosis in patients with IgA nephropathy. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 12:1–5, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.