title: Measurement of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in patients with non-communicable diseases: any additional benefit?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the major complication from non-communicable diseases (NCD), such as diabetes or hypertension. We aimed to determine if routine measurement of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in NCD patients could provide additional benefit for diagnosing kidney disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fasting serum NGAL, urea, creatinine, uric acid and albumin were measured in 298 NCD patients. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) was calculated using the CKD-EPI equation. Multiple linear regression modeling was used for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CKD patients have the highest levels of NGAL than the other NCD patients (p < 0.001). Although NGAL was significantly related to e-GFR, creatinine, urea and albumin in CKD-patients (p < 0.001) and not in the other NCD patients (p > 0.05), only serum creatinine predicted NGAL levels in CKD-patients (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NGAL level is best associated with serum creatinine only in patients with CKD and NGAL measurement may not be cost effective as a routine kidney function test in NCD patients in under-resourced economies.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Para-Clinical Sciences , Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies , St Augustine Campus , Trinidad and Tobago , and.
authors.forename: Chidum E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Ezenwaka
authors.affiliation: a Department of Para-Clinical Sciences , Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies , St Augustine Campus , Trinidad and Tobago , and.
authors.forename: Saleh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Idris
authors.affiliation: a Department of Para-Clinical Sciences , Faculty of Medical Sciences, The University of the West Indies , St Augustine Campus , Trinidad and Tobago , and.
authors.forename: Gershwin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: b National Organ Transplant Unit, Eric Williams Medical Science Complex , Mount Hope , Trinidad and Tobago.
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roberts
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D000071068:Lipocalin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000071068:Lipocalin-2
keywords: Biomarkers; Caribbean; kidney disease; non-communicable disease