Objective: We designed the present study to test the hypothesis that urinary biomarkers might predict acute kidney injury (AKI) development in non-septic and non-asphyxiated critically ill preterm infants. We evaluated urine (u) sistatin-C (uCys-C), kidney injury molecule-1 (uKIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase associate lipocaline (uNGAL) as markers of AKI.
Methods: Sixty-four preterm infants with gestational age between 28 and 32 weeks were included in this study. Biomarkers were measured on day of life (DOL) 1, 3, and 7.
Results: uNGAL levels in the AKI group were significantly higher than in no-AKI group on DOL 1, 3 and 7 (p = 0.016, p = 0.007 and p = 0.0014, respectively).
Conclusions: uNGAL is sensitive, early, and noninvasive AKI biomarkers, increasing significantly in non-septic and non-asphyxiated critically ill preterm neonates.
Keywords: Acute kidney injury; kidney injury molecule–1; neutrophil gelatinase associate lipocaline; preterm infants; sistatin–C; urine.