Umbilical neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level as an early predictor of acute kidney injury in neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Biomed Res Int. 2015:2015:360209. doi: 10.1155/2015/360209. Epub 2015 Jan 28.

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a primarily described complication after unbalanced systemic perfusion in neonates with congenital heart defects, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The aim of the study was to compare the umbilical NGAL concentrations between neonates born with HLHS and healthy infants, as well as to analyze whether the determination of NGAL level could predict AKI in neonates with prenatally diagnosed HLHS. Twenty-one neonates with prenatally diagnosed HLHS were enrolled as study group and 30 healthy neonates served as controls. Perinatal characteristics and postnatal parameters were extracted from the hospital neonatal database. In umbilical cord blood, we determined plasma NGAL concentrations, acid base balance, and lactate and creatinine levels. In neonates with HLHS, complications (respiratory insufficiency, circulatory failure, NEC, IVH, and AKI) were recorded until the day of cardiosurgery. We observed in neonates with HLHS higher umbilical NGAL levels compared to controls. Among 8 neonates with HLHS and diagnosed AKI stage 1, we observed elevated NGAL levels in comparison to those newborns without AKI. Umbilical NGAL could predict, with high sensitivity and specificity, AKI development in study neonates. We suggest that the umbilical blood NGAL concentration may be an early marker to predict AKI in neonates with HLHS.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / blood*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / complications
  • Acute Kidney Injury / pathology
  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • Fetal Blood
  • Humans
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / blood*
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / complications
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / pathology
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Lipocalin-2
  • Lipocalins / blood*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / blood*

Substances

  • Acute-Phase Proteins
  • LCN2 protein, human
  • Lipocalin-2
  • Lipocalins
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins