Plasma levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in children with heart failure

Introduction: Data about plasma levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in children with heart failure (HF) are very limited. NGAL is used widely as a biomarker for the diagnosis of renal injury in numerous clinical studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the plasma NGAL in children with HF caused by idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDCM) and its relation to the severity of HF. Material and methods: In a case-control study, 30 nondiabetic children, aged –16 years (all have IDCM) recruited from the pediatric department of our institute together with 30 healthy children were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients underwent a detailed history taking, clinical examination, New York Heart Association (NYHA) class assessment and echocardiographic evaluation. Plasma levels of NGAL were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Plasma levels of NGAL were significantly higher in children with HF compared with healthy controls (mean: 290.97 versus 144.33, p < 0.0001). The relationship between NGAL and the severity of HF was investigated. However, we did not find any statistically significant relationship between plasma NGAL levels and indices of myocardial function. Conclusions: NGAL levels were significantly increased in children with HF caused by IDCM. However, there was no significant relationship between plasma NGAL levels and indices of myocardial function. Future multicenter clinical studies in a large population addressing the natural course of NGAL in HF and its potential as a treatment target are needed in the near future.