Evaluation of Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin as an Early Marker of Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetic Adolescents

Abstract

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic, lifelong disorder of glucose homeostasis characterized by autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic b-cell, leading progressively to insulin deficiency and resultant hyperglycemia. Its incidence continues to increase worldwide and it has serious short-term and long-term implications. These complications consist of microvascular and macrovascular disease, which account for the major morbidity and mortality associated with T1DM. Screening provides an opportunity to detect uNGAL early to initiate therapy, and to encourage meticulous attention to achieving glycemic goals during the reversible phase of diabetic nephropathy which is the single leading cause of end-stage renal disease and the need for renal replacement therapy and considered one of the most severe microvascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes. Urinary NGAL is currently considered as one of the most promising biomarkers in clinical nephrology and has been extensively studied in acute kidney disease. Acute kidney disease is closely related to high morbidity and mortality. Therefore, researchers had aggressively searched for a new biomarker and uNGAL has been found to improve the accuracy of the current biomarkers used to detect kidney damage. The aim of this case control study was to assess urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) in type 1 diabetic adolescents and to evaluate