title: Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Levels in Neonates.
abstract: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in preterm infants and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. New biomarkers for the early detection of AKI have been identified. Specifically, urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) is a new and powerful biomarker for AKI and sepsis. Our study evaluated the reference range of uNGAL in healthy neonates in Taiwan.
  
  
  
  This study examined 24 preterm and 38 term infants without clinical complications. Urine samples were collected and the uNGAL values were measured at postnatal age (PNA) 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days in the preterm infants and at PNA 3 days in the term infants. The uNGAL values were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  
  The median uNGAL values in the preterm infants at PNA 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 21 days were 41.52 ng/mL, 35.82 ng/mL, 43.79 ng/mL, and 30.85 ng/mL, respectively. The median value at PNA 3 days in the term infants was 88.1 ng/mL. No significant differences associated with gestational age, birth body weight, or PNA were observed among the preterm infants. However, the uNGAL values in the female term infants were higher than those in the male term infants (p = 0.003).
  
  
  
  This study presents preliminary data on uNGAL levels in neonates in Taiwan. A large-scale study investigating the correlations between uNGAL and with gestational age, birth body weight, sex, and PNA is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chi-Nien
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Suh-Fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: I-Jung
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.affiliation: Environmental and Occupational Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, National Taiwan University College of Public Health, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pau-Chung
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chien-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hung-Chieh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Nien
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: hsiehws@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Wu-Shiun
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Hsieh
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D000071068:Lipocalin-2 / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D000071074:Neonatal Sepsis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000652:urine; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012016:Reference Values; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000071068:Lipocalin-2
keywords: acute kidney injury; biomarkers; neonate; neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin