Abstract
IntroductionUrinary stones cause hydronephrosis, which leads to kidney function impairment. The serum creatinine level is frequently used as a marker of kidney function. However, in some patients with hydronephrosis, it does not reflect the kidney function changes in the early stages of kidney stone disease. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a novel indicator of the kidney function. Previous NGAL-related research has focused on its role in acute kidney injury. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of NGAL as an early marker of the kidney function in patients with urinary stones and hydronephrosis.MethodsEighty-five patients with urinary stones who were admitted to the Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital (USP group) and 65 healthy volunteers (NC group) were recruited. Blood and urine samples collected from the study participants were evaluated using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine the NGAL concentration. Data on the height, weight, age, medical history, and blood and urine findings were collected. Computed tomography data were collected from the USP group.ResultsCompared to in the NC group, NGAL levels were significantly elevated in the USP group (P < 0.001). However, no significant differences in the NGAL levels were observed among the USP group members with different degrees of hydronephrosis. Furthermore, no significant between-group differences in the creatinine level or the estimated glomerular filtration rate were observed. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the serum and urinary NGAL levels with hydronephrosis were 92.03 and 99.54%, respectively. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the serum and urinary NGAL levels with kidney stones were 85.05 and 91.89%, respectively.ConclusionNGAL is a sensitive indicator of hydronephrosis secondary to urinary stones.
Highlights
Urinary stones cause hydronephrosis, which leads to kidney function impairment
No significant differences in the Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels were observed among the USP group members with different degrees of hydronephrosis
NGAL is a sensitive indicator of hydronephrosis secondary to urinary stones
Summary
Urinary stones cause hydronephrosis, which leads to kidney function impairment. In some patients with hydronephrosis, it does not reflect the kidney function changes in the early stages of kidney stone disease. This study aimed to determine the usefulness of NGAL as an early marker of the kidney function in patients with urinary stones and hydronephrosis. Natural discharge of some urinary stones may occur, depending on their size, shape, and location. When stones block the renal pelvis junction or the ureter, acute complete obstruction or chronic incomplete obstruction may occur. Hydronephrosis is caused by the stenosis of the urethral lumen and the obstruction of the urethra in any part of the kidney to the external orifice of the urethra, and gradually damages the renal parenchyma and affects the kidney function. There are some different standards for the classification of hydronephrosis in the world [2–4]
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