Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin as a Useful Modality in Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury Amongst Low Birth Weight Neonate

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension in adolescence and young adulthood are predisposing factors for cardiovascular and neurological diseases later in life. Serum creatinine has been routinely used as a daily practice modality for detecting acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients of all ages. Unfortunately, serum creatinine levels have some limitations, such as the delayed increase among AKI events. An earlier biomarker is needed to detect AKI, notably in the neonatal period. The present study aimed to determine whether neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) could be used as a modality in detecting AKI, not only in children and adults, but also in neonates. Methods A prospective-cohort study conducted at Hasan Sadikin General Hospital, Bandung, on preterm neonates with a gestational age of 28 – 34 weeks, and performed serum NGAL and creatinine measurements. Spearman’s rank correlation was used to determine the association between serum NGAL levels and AKI during the first 48 h in these neonates. Results Serum NGAL measurement showed better positivity rate than creatinine (KDIGO and nRIFLE) in detecting early AKI in neonates, with values of 81.8, 24.7, and 10.4, respectively. Conclusion NGAL can be used as a modality in detecting AKI in neonates earlier.