title: Serum and Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin Monitoring in Normal Pregnancy Versus Pregnancies Complicated by Pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pre-eclampsia is a syndrome characterized by endothelium dysfunction, systemic inflammation, and kidney injury that could be associated with increased levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). We investigated whether serum and urinary NGAL may have a clinical value in defining the severity of pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional case-control study enrolled 18 women with pre-eclampsia matched for gestational age with 22 uncomplicated pregnancies. We evaluated the correlation between NGAL levels and blood pressure and 24-hour proteinuria values by linear regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linear regression disclosed a positive and significant correlation between urinary NGAL and 24-hour proteinuria. Serum NGAL appeared to be higher, but not significantly different, in severe pre-eclampsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These preliminary data indicate that NGAL may correlate with an inflammatory renal involvement in severe pre-eclampsia. Further studies would be useful to better estimate the clinical value of an NGAL increase for evaluating the possibility of delivery induction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonazzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Capelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Curti
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Comai
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Nephrology, Dialysis and Renal Transplant Unit, St. Orsola Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy gaetano.lamanna@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: La Manna
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000652:urine*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins
keywords: Inflammation; pre-eclampsia; proteinuria; serum NGAL; urinary NGAL