Serum and Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in children with urinary tract infection

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is the commonest bacterial infection in children . Urine culture is the gold standard for diagnosing UTI, but culture results require at least 2 days for identification of bacteria. Recent data show that serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (s NGAL) and urinary NGAL assay can be used for prediction of (UTI). we aimed to investigate the relation between urine and serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and UTI in infants in Zagazig University hospitals . . Methods: A case control study carried out in Pediatric nephrology department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University Hospitals through a duration of six month starting at august 2018 . the study included 48 children between 6 and 12 years divided into three groups arranged as cases with febrile UTI, non febrile UTI and healthy control. Patient with other infections, symptoms of chronic kidney damage ,liver dysfunction and evidence of obstructive nephropathy were excluded. Results: the study showed , there was significant increase in level of serum NGAL in patients with febrile and non-febrile UTI in comparison to healthy control group with mean sensitivity 100%, specificity 75%, positive predictive value 66.7%, negative predictive value 100% . There was significant increase in level of urine NGAL in patients with febrile UTI in comparison to patients with non febrile UTI and healthy control group with sensitivity 81.2%, specificity 50%, positive predictive value 76.5%, negative predictive value 57.1%.Conclusions: Serum NGAL had sensitivity and specificity in prediction of UTI in studied patients more than urine NGAL.