Objective: To study the perioperative change in serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) level among children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and pulmonary hypertension (PH) and its significance.
Methods: Eighty children with CHD were divided into four groups according to pulmonary artery systolic pressure: non-PH, mild PH, moderate PH and severe PH groups. Serum NGAL levels were measured before operation, immediately after operation and 24 hours after operation. The relationship of serum NGAL level with PH and early prognosis was analyzed.
Results: The mild, moderate and severe PH groups had significantly higher serum NGAL levels than the non-PH group, and the severer the PH, the higher the serum NGAL level (P<0.01). All groups showed significant decreases in serum NGAL levels after operation (P<0.01). Serum NGAL level was positively correlated with the degree of PH and length of stay in the intensive care unit (P<0.01).
Conclusions: Serum NGAL level increases in children with CHD and PH, and it gradually decreases after operation for closing the abnormal shunt. Serum NGAL level may be used as a serological indicator for evaluating the degree of PH and surgical outcome.