Neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL) has emerged as a reliable marker of acute renal injury and is produced at the maternal–fetal interface but its role in preeclampsia has not been systematically examined. This study investigated whether plasma NGAL concentrations changed in patients with preeclampsia at diagnosis compared to normotensive controls.
Study Design:
A case–control study was performed. Plasma was collected from women with preeclampsia and normotensive controls matched for age, gestational age, and body mass index. Plasma NGAL concentrations were measured by specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results:
Patients with preeclampsia had significantly higher NGAL concentrations than controls (median [range]: 203.8 ng/mL [66.1-575.4] vs 122.8 ng/mL [7.0-669.7]; P = .047). In subgroup analysis, patients with severe preeclampsia had significantly higher NGAL concentrations than those with mild preeclampsia. Plasma NGAL concentrations were positively correlated with the amount of proteinuria in women with preeclampsia (P = .003).
Conclusions:
Plasma NGAL concentrations were significantly elevated in women with preeclampsia versus normotensive controls, and concentrations appear to be associated with the severity of the disease.
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