Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Iron Status in Predialysis Chronic Kidney Disease at Zagazig University

Background: The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is substantial. Anemia is a common feature of CKD. Objective: The aim was to predict about iron status by serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels and role of serum NGAL as biomarker of iron deficiency in CKD patients. Patients and Methods: A prospective, case-control comparative study that was conducted at Nephrology Outpatient Clinic and Internal Medicine Department, Zagazig University Hospitals. Seventy two participants were divided into two groups: Group I included 36 participants with no chronic kidney disease and group II that included 36 chronic kidney disease patients. Laboratory investigations included iron parameters and serum NGAL levels were measured Results: S. Iron, TIBC, S. Ferritin and calculated T. sat” were statistically analyzed and showed that there was a statistical significant difference between the two studied groups. NGAL level was higher in CKD group than in the non-CKD group. A significant positive correlation between serum NGAL and T sat & serum ferritin and there was a significant negative correlation between NGAL and eGFR, HB and serum iron. Conclusion: Patients had significantly higher NGAL levels when compared to controls and this means that it had an important role in iron metabolism in those patients. There was statistically significant direct correlation between serum NGAL levels and serum ferritin levels and T. sat and inverse correlation with iron. Serum NGAL could be a good biomarker for iron status in CKD patients but not better than the ordinary used methods “serum ferritin and T. sat”.