URINARY LEVELS OF NUCLEAR MATRIX PROTEIN 22 IN PATIENTS WITH URINARY DIVERSION

Abstract Objectives. To evaluate the influence of various types of urinary diversion on urinary nuclear matrix protein 22 (U-NMP22) levels. Methods. U-NMP22 values were determined for 38 urinary diversion patients without upper urinary tract cancer. The patients were divided into three groups: tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy (n = 12), ileal conduit (n = 15), and continent urinary reservoir (n = 11). The mean values and false-positive rates of U-NMP22 (cutoff value 12 U/mL) were compared among the three groups. Results. The mean ± standard error U-NMP22 value for the ureterostomy, ileal conduit, and reservoir groups was 20.1 ± 5.8 U/mL, 335.6 ± 63.5 U/mL, and 671.8 ± 220.4 U/mL, respectively ( P = 0.0030). The false-positive rate of U-NMP22 for the ureterostomy, ileal conduit, and reservoir groups was 41.7%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. In the ureterostomy group, the exclusion of patients with pyuria improved the false-positive rate of U-NMP22 from 41.7% to 12.5%. Conclusions. U-NMP22 levels may be useful in the diagnosis of upper urinary tract cancer in patients with a tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy. However, in patients with urinary diversion using a bowel segment, U-NMP22 has no diagnostic value because of the high U-NMP22 levels.