Analysis of urine biomarkers for early determination of acute kidney injury in non septic and non asphyxiated critically ill preterm neonates

Abstract

Objective: We designed the present study to test the hypothesis that urinary biomarkers might predict acute kidney injury (AKI) development in non-septic and non-asphyxiated critically ill preterm infants. We evaluated urine (u) sistatin–C (uCys-C), kidney injury molecule–1 (uKIM–1) and neutrophil gelatinase associate lipocaline (uNGAL) as markers of AKI. Methods: Sixty-four preterm infants with gestational age between 28 and 32 weeks were included in this study. Biomarkers were measured on day of life (DOL) 1, 3, and 7. Results: uNGAL levels in the AKI group were significantly higher than in no-AKI group on DOL 1, 3 and 7 (p ¼ 0.016, p ¼ 0.007 and p ¼ 0.0014, respectively). Conclusions: uNGAL is sensitive, early, and noninvasive AKI biomarkers, increasing significantly in non-septic and non-asphyxiated critically ill preterm neonates.