title: Umbilical cord blood NGAL concentration as an early marker of perinatal asphyxia in neonates.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent reports have revealed increased concentration of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in cardiovascular diseases and after episodes of hypoxia. We hypothesized that elevated plasma NGAL levels could be a result of vascular endothelial injury due to perinatal asphyxia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-three newborns with a gestational age > or = 37 weeks, of which 32 newborns were asphyxiated (study group), and 61 were healthy children (control group), were enrolled in the study Serum NGAL, lactate and creatinine concentrations, acid-base balance, neutrophil and white blood cell count were measured in the umbilical cord blood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Asphyxiated newborns had a significantly lower pH value (7.0 vs. 7.3, p < 0.001), lower HCO3 (15.8 mmol/L vs. 23.2 mmol/L; p < 0.001) and higher lactate concentrations (7.5 mmol/L vs. 2.3 mmol/L; p < 0.001), as compared to controls. Neutrophil count (10.3 x 109/L vs. 6.5 x 109/L; p = 0.02) and NGAL concentration (122.5 ng/mL vs. 24.3 ng/ mL p < 0.001) were elevated in asphyxiated newborns as compared to healthy children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The measurement of NGAL in the umbilical blood can be a valuable biomarker of perinatal asphyxia in neonates.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Surmiak
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baumert
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiala
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sypniewska
authors.forename: Zofia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Walencka
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Łukomska
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karcz
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019344:Lactic Acid; D003404:Creatinine