The application of neutrophil gelatin-related lipid delivery protein in evaluation of renal function, nutrition, anemia and inflammation in patients with CKD

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in the evaluation of renal function, nutrition, anemia and inflammation in patients with chronic kidney diseases.

Materials and methods: A total of 302 patients with chronic kidney diseases were selected, and their clinical data, blood neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels, renal function, nutrition, anemia, inflammation and calcium, and phosphorus metabolism were analyzed.

Result: Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin level increased with the progression of chronic kidney diseases. Higher neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels were observed in patients with chronic kidney diseases stage 3b compared with healthy individuals (P<0.05), while the patients with chronic kidney diseases stage 5 showed higher levels compared with other chronic kidney diseases stages (P<0.01). Moreover, the ROC curve showed that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin had a better diagnostic performance from the chronic kidney diseases stage 3b to 5 (P<0.05). In addition, the serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels in patient with chronic kidney diseases were negatively correlated with body mass index, number of red blood cells, hemoglobin, transferrin, the estimatedglomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum calcium (P<0.01); and were positively correlated with mean arterial blood pressure, blood BUN, SCr and alpha 1 microglobulin, beta 2 microglobulin, urinary inhibition C, homocysteine, PTH levels, neutrophils ratio, free serum ferritin and c-reactive protein (P<0.01); while no significant correlation was found with gender, and age (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels are closely related to renal function injury, inflammatory response and anemia-related indicators in patients with chronic kidney diseases, and thus could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for evaluating the degree of renal injury and related complications in patients with chronic kidney diseases.

Keywords: Chronic kidney disease; Inflammation; NGAL; Nutrition; Renal function.