title: Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin at birth predicts early renal function in very low birth weight infants.
abstract: Preterm infants are exposed to conditions that can impair renal function. We evaluated the ability of serum and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL and uNGAL) to predict renal function in the first weeks of life. From September 2008 to July 2009, infants weighing ≤1500 g at birth with no major congenital anomalies or sepsis were eligible. We measured sNGAL and uNGAL levels at birth. To evaluate renal function, we determined changes in serum creatinine (sCreat) and estimated GFR (eGFR) from birth to d 21. Forty neonates (mean GA, 27 ± 2 wk) completed the study. Renal function improved in 32 of 40 (80%) infants (normal renal function, NRF group) (sCreat, from 0.97 ± 0.2 to 0.53 ± 0.13 mg/dL; eGFR, from 15.3 ± 4.1 to 28.6 ± 7.9 mL/min), whereas renal function worsened in 8 of 40 (20%) infants (impaired renal function, IRF group) (sCreat, from 0.71 ± 0.27 to 0.98 ± 0.43 mg/dL; eGFR from 23 ± 14.7 to 16.4 ± 9.1 mL/min). The uNGAL/urinary creatinine (uCreat) ratio at birth was higher in the IRF group (31.05 ng/mg) than the NRF group (6.0 ng/mg), and uNGAL was significantly higher in IRF group, detecting IRF with a cutoff of 100 ng/mL. uNGAL levels at birth may have a predictive role in very LBW (VLBW) infants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Aging and Renal Disease, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy. gaetano.lamanna@unibo.it
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Manna
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galletti
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vandini
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nisi
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aquilano
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carretta
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montini
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Faldella
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stefoni
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins