Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is postulated to be a potentially new and highly specific/sensitive marker of acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to assess the impact of inflammation on serum and urine NGAL in newborns that were treated due to infection. We determined serum and urine NGAL concentrations in 73 infants (51 with sepsis; 22 with severe sepsis) admitted to the Intensive Care Unit in the first month of life, for three consecutive days during the course of treatment for infection. 29 neonates without infection served as the control group. Septic patients, in particular, severe sepsis patients, had increased serum and urinary NGAL levels in the three subsequent days of observation. Five septic patients who developed AKI had elevated serum and urinary NGAL values to a similar extent as septic neonates without AKI. A strong correlation was found between the concentration of serum and urinary NGAL and inflammatory markers, such as CRP and procalcitonin. Serum and urinary NGAL levels were also significantly associated with NTISS (neonatal therapeutic intervention scoring system) values. We conclude that increased serum and urinary NGAL values are not solely a marker of AKI, and more accurately reflect the severity of inflammatory status.

Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is postulated to be a highly sensitive and specific marker of acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to assess the factors affecting serum and urine total NGAL in preterm newborns, limiting the role of this new potential marker of AKI. Methods: Serum and urinary total NGAL concentrations were determined in 57 preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in the following points of time: first week of life, between 8 and 14 days of life, and after the fourth week of life. Patients' clinical conditions were evaluated based on NTISS (Neonatal Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System). Two gestational age subgroups were distinguished: 29 and 30 to 35 weeks of gestation. We sought correlation between total NGAL values and gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score and severity of clinical condition, with particular interest in inflammatory status. Results: Serum and urinary total NGAL concentration correlated with inflammatory markers, such as CRP and procalcitonin, as well as with NTISS values. Birth weight and gestational age influence urinary NGAL (uNGAL) values in the first two weeks of life. In AKI (N ¼ 8) patients uNGAL values were significantly higher than in non-AKI newborns. Conclusions: We conclude that inflammatory status and prematurity limits the specificity of total NGAL measurement as a marker of AKI.

Introduction Zonulin (ZO), a new diagnostic biomarker of intestinal permeability, was tested in newborns presenting symptoms of infection and/or inflammation of the gut or being at risk of intestinal pathology. Material and Methods Serum ZO was assessed in 81 newborns diagnosed with sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), rotavirus infection, and gastroschisis, also in extremely low gestational age babies, and in controls (healthy newborns). ZO concentration was compared to C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) values, leucocyte and platelet count, basic demographic data, and the value of the Neonatal Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (NTISS). Results Median values of ZO were markedly higher in groups with rotavirus infection and gastroschisis (36.0 (1-3Q: 26.0–43.2) and 20.3 (1-3Q: 17.7–28.2) ng/ml, resp.) versus controls (3.5 (1-3Q: 2.7–4.8) ng/ml). Its concentration in the NEC group was twice as high as in controls but did not reach statistical significance. ZO levels were not related to NTISS, CRP, and PCT. Conclusions Zonulin is a promising biomarker of intestinal condition, markedly elevated in rotavirus infections. Its role in defining the severity of necrotizing enterocolitis and the risk for perforation is not well described and needs further evaluation. An increase in zonulin may not be parallel to the release of inflammatory markers, and low CRP should not exclude an injury to neonatal intestine.

Background and aims Neutrophile gelatinase-associated lipocaline (NGAL) is postulated to be a highly sensitive and specific marker of acute kidney injury (AKI). The aim of this study was to assess the factors affecting serum and urine total NGAL in preterm newborns, limiting the role of this new potential marker of AKI. Methods Serum and urinary total NGAL concentrations were determined in 57 admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit preterm infants in the following points of time: first week of life, between 8 and 14 day of life, and after the fourth week of life. Patients’ clinical condition was evaluated based on NTISS (Neonatal Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System). Two gestational age subgroups were distinguished: <30 and 30 to 35 weeks of gestation. We seek correlation between total NGAL values and gestational age, birth weight, Apgar score and severity of clinical condition with particular interest in inflammatory status. Results Serum and urinary total NGAL concentration correlated with inflammatory markers, such as CRP and procalcitonin as well as with NTISS values. Birth weight and gestational age influence uNGAL values in the first two weeks of life. In AKI (N=8) patients uNGAL values were significantly higher than in non-AKI newborns. Conclusions We conclude that inflammatory status and prematurity limits the specificity of total NGAL measurement as the marker of AKI. Acknowledgement This study was supported by the grant from Medical University of Silesia (KNW–1–057/P/2/0).

WstępNoworodki z wrodzoną wadą serca (WWS) wymagają ostrożnej terapii płynami z uwagi na ryzyko wystąpienia niewydolności krążenia. Rutynowe badania laboratoryjne nie są optymalnym narzędziem w identyfikacji stanu przewodnienia i dlatego konieczne są poszukiwania nowych markerów. Kopeptyna (CTproAVP) może być jednym z nich. Celem pracy była analiza wpływu aktualnie obowiązującego protokołu nawadniania noworodków z WWS na homeostazę wolemii z wykorzystaniem CTproAVP.Materiał i metodyDo badania włączono 10 noworodków z WWS hospitalizowanych na oddziale intensywnej terapii noworodka przed zabiegiem kardiochirurgicznym. Cztery z nich prezentowały objawy niewydolności oddechowej, a wszystkie z wyjątkiem dwóch otrzymywały alprostadil. Postępowanie kliniczne było rutynowe, z wyjątkiem pomiaru CTproAVP w pierwszych pięciu dniach życia wraz z oceną osmolalności surowicy i moczu. Podaż płynów mieściła się w zakresach normy dla wieku. Grupę kontrolną stanowiło 200 zdrowych donoszonych noworodków.WynikiAktualny protokół nawadniania nie powodował, w porównaniu z grupą kontrolną, wzrostu stężenia osmolalności surowicy i moczu. Efektywna osmolalność analizowanych płynów ustrojowych była nawet niższa u noworodków z WWS. Również stężenie CTproAVP było niższe w grupie badanej, lecz różnica nie była istotna statystycznie. Nie obserwowano klinicznych objawów niewydolności krążenia lub przewodnienia. Nie zidentyfikowano czynników, które wyjaśniałyby zmienność w stężeniu CTproAVP.WnioskiWstępne wyniki sugerują, że aktualny protokół nawadniania nie powoduje odwodnienia ani nie stymuluje uwalniania CTproAVP. Wydaje się, że u noworodków z WWS i ryzykiem przeciążenia krążenia płucnego można za-stosować nawet bardziej restrykcyjny protokół nawadniania. Konieczna jest dłuższa obserwacja, z włączeniem okresu pooperacyjnego, aby otrzymać bardziej miarodajne dane na temat optymalnego nawodnienia i roli kopeptyny w monitorowaniu wolemii.

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