Association of neutrophil-gelatinase-associated lipocalin with microvascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Eighty-two patients with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in our study. Urinary microalbumine and NGAL levels were measured in urine samples over 24 hours. We also studied NGAL levels in serum. All patients went through an ophthalmologic examination. The results were evaluated based on the presence of microalbuminuria and retinopathy. There were no significant differences in serum and urine NGAL levels between normoalbuminuric (n = 66) and microalbuminuric (n = 16) patients. We also did not find any significant difference in patients with retinopathy (n = 16) or without retinopathy (n = 66). There are controversial findings about the role of NGAL in diabetic patients in medical literature. Standard values of urine and serum NGAL levels have yet to be determined. Our study suggests that NGAL is not a useful marker to differentiate microalbuminuric patients from normoalbuminuric subjects. We also did not find a relationship between NGAL levels and the presence of retinopathy. Additional studies with larger sample sizes will be required to confirm or refute these findings.