Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients and associated with increased cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients. Early detection of DN using neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) assessment can help to reveal predisposed patients to its progression and to prevent progression of DN. Especially important it is in patients with normoalbuminuria.

Aim: To determine NGAL concentrations in T1D and T2D patients and its correlation with HbA1c level and age.

Materials and methods: We included 57 patients with T1D aged 38.79±10.35 (group 1) and 22 patients with T2D aged 53.15±4.88 (group 2) (P<0.001). GFR was calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation (ml/min per 1.73 m²). Microalbuminuria was determined in 24-h collection urine by immunoturbidimetric method. Concentration of NGAL was determined in serum using immunofluorescence assay (ng/ml).

Results and discussion: There were no significant difference in GFR between groups: 96.33±32.79 ml/min per 1.73 m² in group 1 and 85.83±20.8379 ml/min per 1.73 m² in group 2 (P<0,1). Patients were normoalbuminuric. NGAL concentrations were higher in T2D patients (5.37±2.00 ng/ml) vs T1D (1.57±1.87 ng/ml) (P<0.001). It is suggested that such factors as age and HbA1c level (8.60±1.51% in group 1 and 12.17±1.82% in group 2, P<0.001) can affect of NGAL level. The positive correlation between NGAL concentrations and HbA1c levels(r=0.45, P<0.05) was revealed. Positive correlation between age and NGAL level (r=0.38, P<0.05) was determined. Thus age may present impact factor on NGAL levels.

Conclusions: T2D is associated with higher level of NGAL compared to T1D. Increase in NGAL levels in patients with diabetes may be associated with advanced and long-lasting hyperglycemia as well as with higher age.