Measurement of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in patients with non-communicable diseases: any additional benefit?

Abstract

Aim: 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). Conclusion: 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.

• Biomarkers
• Caribbean
• non-communicable disease
• kidney disease

Acknowledgements

We thank all the patients for their blood, Ms Angela for technical assistance, Dr Fareed Al, Salmonella M and the Nurses at the National Organ Transplant Unit, Eric Williams Medical Science Complex, Mount Hope for clinical assistance and the Regional Health Authorities for permission to conduct the research.

Declaration of interest

The authors declare that there are no competing financial interests exist.

This study was supported with a research grant from the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus. Mr. Saleh Idris was on a Pre-doctoral Fellowship from Bayero University, Nigeria.