Urinary Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Electrophoresis With Silver Staining: A Noninvasive Diagnostic Tool for Obstructive Uropathy in Children

Purpose: Obstructive uropathy such as ureteropelvic junction obstruction in the newborn is a major diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. We investigated whether urinary sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis with polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with silver staining could be used to discriminate between children requiring and those not requiring pyeloplasty.Materials and Methods: In a pilot study we analyzed the urine of 18 children (mean age 2.7 years) with grade III or IV hydronephrosis according to the Society for Fetal Urology classification. A total of 44 healthy children were studied as controls. Children with hydronephrosis were followed using ultrasound, 99mtechnetium mercaptoacetyltriglycine diuretic renography and voiding cystourethrography. Urine was obtained by spontaneous voiding and studied by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with silver staining using Melzer’s modification. After the study period test results were compared to outcomes, ie whether patients required s...