Blood And Urine Protein Predicts Chronic Kidney Disease Progression

The blood and urine of some individuals with impaired kidney function have increased levels of a small protein called Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL). NGAL is released from injured renal tubular cells, which are cells crucial for proper functioning of the kidneys. Preliminary research has also shown that individuals with high levels of NGAL experience worsening of their kidney function within one year, compared with individuals with lower levels of NGAL. However, no definitive study has demonstrated the potential of NGAL measurements for predicting how a patient's CKD will progress.

To accomplish this, Michele Buemi, MD, of the University of Messina in Messina, Italy and her colleagues examined the predictive value of blood and urinary NGAL measurements for the progression of CKD in a wide variety of patients with non-advanced CKD.

The investigators evaluated the blood and urine levels of NGAL in 96 patients with non-terminal CKD who were followed for an average of 18.5 months. By the end of the study, 31 patients experienced significant progression of their disease, in some cases developing end-stage renal disease. The researchers noted that at the start of the study, these patients had increased NGAL levels compared with patients whose disease did not progress. Both urinary NGAL and blood NGAL levels each predicted worsening of CKD. Therefore, "NGAL… represents a strong and independent risk marker for progression of CKD," the authors concluded.

The findings could be used to screen patients with CKD to determine their risk of worsening disease and to indicate which patients should receive aggressive treatments. "Our study offers a great new tool for prevention of renal failure progression," said Dr. Buemi. The results are particulary important today as CKD has become a severe public health problem and incidence rates continue to rise.