Aim: To evaluate the fecal level of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in different behavior of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Materials and methods: We prospectively included 41 people into the study--30 patients with active IBD and 11 healthy volunteers. The concentration of NGAL in faeces was determined by enzyme immunoassay method.
Results: Fecal NGAL level was increased in both UC and CD: in CD--5924.27 ± 2067.6 ng/ml (p < 0.05), in UC--5826.09 ± 891.8 ng/ml (p < 0.05) NGAL levels were higher than in the control group (658.8 ± 237.7 ng/ml). Maximal changes were seen in colonic involvement. NGAL levels increased with the increasing extension of lesion in UC (p < 0.05), while in CD concentration was higher in colitis than in ileitis and ileocolitis (p > 0.05) . NGAL level increased with severity of CD (p < 0.05), in patients with UC difference was not significant. In UC NGAL level was increased with increasing extension of lesions (p < 0.05), in CD this pattern was not marked. Correlation NGAL level with some clinical and laboratory indicators in CD was established. Sensitivity of test in evaluation of exacerbation of IBD was 80%, specificity--90.9%, area under the ROC curve (AUC)--0.9, positive predictive value--96%, negative predictive value--62.5%; positive likelihood ratio--8.8 and negative likelihood ratio--0.22.
Conclusions: The fecal concentration of NGAL significantly increased during IBD. With increasing severity and activity of disease level ofNGAL was increased in CD (p < 0.05). Lipocalin-2 values was higher with the increasing extension of lesions in UC (p < 0.05). There has been established the high diagnostic value of the detection of fecal NGAL as a marker of the active phase of IBD.