Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a urine-based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis

Background: Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a non-invasive biomarker that may aid in diagnosing active lupus nephritis. This study seeks to evaluate NGAL as a urine-based bio...

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Main Authors: Anthony Chakma, Debatosh Paul, Sheuly Ferdoushi, Minhaj Rahim Choudhury, Md. Saiful Islam
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University 2025-04-01
Series:Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal
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Online Access:https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BSMMUJ/article/view/76621
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author Anthony Chakma
Debatosh Paul
Sheuly Ferdoushi
Minhaj Rahim Choudhury
Md. Saiful Islam
author_facet Anthony Chakma
Debatosh Paul
Sheuly Ferdoushi
Minhaj Rahim Choudhury
Md. Saiful Islam
author_sort Anthony Chakma
collection DOAJ
description Background: Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a non-invasive biomarker that may aid in diagnosing active lupus nephritis. This study seeks to evaluate NGAL as a urine-based biomarker to diagnose active lupus nephritis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Rheumatology, and Nephrology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Urine samples were collected to estimate NGAL levels using the ELISA method in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Participants were divided into three groups: patients with SLE and active lupus nephritis, patients without nephritis, and healthy controls. Each group was comprised of 24 individuals. Patients with active lupus nephritis were classified into six categories (I to VI). ANOVA was performed to compare urinary NGAL values across the groups or categories. A receiver operating characteristic curve was created to establish the cut-off point for NGAL. Results: The mean urinary NGAL level was 19.5 (SD 6.9), 7.2 (3.8), and 1.7 (6.5) ng/mL in SLE patients with active lupus nephritis, SLE patients without active lupus nephritis, and healthy individuals, respectively. Increasing mean levels were observed across the classes of lupus nephritis. The cut-off point for urinary NGAL in active lupus nephritis was 11.6 ng/mL, demonstrating a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 93.8%. Conclusion: The level of urinary NGAL was elevated in SLE patients with active lupus nephritis. It could serve as a valuable biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis.
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spelling doaj-art-9c3c3a2a2ebc41e79423d7e62a3118d92025-08-20T02:24:35ZengBangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical UniversityBangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal2074-29082224-77502025-04-0118210.3329/bsmmuj.v18i2.76621Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a urine-based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritisAnthony Chakma0https://orcid.org/0009-0001-1330-5861Debatosh Paul1https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6872-9255Sheuly Ferdoushi2Minhaj Rahim Choudhury3Md. Saiful Islam4Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Rheumatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, BangladeshDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh Background: Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a non-invasive biomarker that may aid in diagnosing active lupus nephritis. This study seeks to evaluate NGAL as a urine-based biomarker to diagnose active lupus nephritis. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Rheumatology, and Nephrology at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University. Urine samples were collected to estimate NGAL levels using the ELISA method in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Participants were divided into three groups: patients with SLE and active lupus nephritis, patients without nephritis, and healthy controls. Each group was comprised of 24 individuals. Patients with active lupus nephritis were classified into six categories (I to VI). ANOVA was performed to compare urinary NGAL values across the groups or categories. A receiver operating characteristic curve was created to establish the cut-off point for NGAL. Results: The mean urinary NGAL level was 19.5 (SD 6.9), 7.2 (3.8), and 1.7 (6.5) ng/mL in SLE patients with active lupus nephritis, SLE patients without active lupus nephritis, and healthy individuals, respectively. Increasing mean levels were observed across the classes of lupus nephritis. The cut-off point for urinary NGAL in active lupus nephritis was 11.6 ng/mL, demonstrating a sensitivity of 83.3% and a specificity of 93.8%. Conclusion: The level of urinary NGAL was elevated in SLE patients with active lupus nephritis. It could serve as a valuable biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis. https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BSMMUJ/article/view/76621SLElupus nephritisurinary NGAL
spellingShingle Anthony Chakma
Debatosh Paul
Sheuly Ferdoushi
Minhaj Rahim Choudhury
Md. Saiful Islam
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a urine-based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal
SLE
lupus nephritis
urinary NGAL
title Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a urine-based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis
title_full Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a urine-based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis
title_fullStr Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a urine-based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis
title_full_unstemmed Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a urine-based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis
title_short Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a urine-based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis
title_sort neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin is a urine based biomarker for diagnosing active lupus nephritis
topic SLE
lupus nephritis
urinary NGAL
url https://www.banglajol.info/index.php/BSMMUJ/article/view/76621
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AT debatoshpaul neutrophilgelatinaseassociatedlipocalinisaurinebasedbiomarkerfordiagnosingactivelupusnephritis
AT sheulyferdoushi neutrophilgelatinaseassociatedlipocalinisaurinebasedbiomarkerfordiagnosingactivelupusnephritis
AT minhajrahimchoudhury neutrophilgelatinaseassociatedlipocalinisaurinebasedbiomarkerfordiagnosingactivelupusnephritis
AT mdsaifulislam neutrophilgelatinaseassociatedlipocalinisaurinebasedbiomarkerfordiagnosingactivelupusnephritis