Am J Perinatol 2009; 26(6): 437-440
DOI: 10.1055/s-0029-1214242
© Thieme Medical Publishers

Reference Range of Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants: Preliminary Data

Elvira Parravicini1 , 3 , John M. Lorenz4 , Sheri L. Nemerofsky1 , 3 , Matthew O'Rourke1 , 3 , Jonathan Barasch2 , 3 , David Bateman1 , 3
  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University and Morgan Stnley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, New York, New York
  • 2Department of Nephrology, Columbia University and Morgan Stnley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, New York, New York
  • 3College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University and Morgan Stnley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, New York, New York
  • 4Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, New York
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
04 March 2009 (online)

ABSTRACT

We sought to determine the reference range for urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (UNGAL) in very low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants with uncomplicated clinical courses. Samples of urine from 53 VLBW infants between 3 and 28 days of life were prospectively collected weekly for measurement of UNGAL. A subset of 22 infants with uncomplicated medical courses without risk factors for renal impairment was selected for study. Mean ± standard deviation and range for birth weight and gestational age of study infants were 1156 ± 191, 790 to 1440 g and 29 ± 2, 27 to 33 weeks, respectively. The 95th and 99th percentiles for UNGAL concentration from this group of infants were 25 ng/mL and 75 ng/mL, respectively. Bootstrapped mean 95th and 99th percentile values and their standard errors and 95 percent confidence intervals in ng/mL were 33.1 ± 13.0 (7.7, 58.6) and 67.5 ± 15.1 (37.9, 97.1), respectively. These values fall within the adult reference range. UNGAL values were stable across the ranges of gestational and postnatal age of the study infants. A preliminary reference range for UNGAL in VLBW infants has been established. Further investigation with more frequent urine collections in a larger population of VLBW infants that includes those with birth weights < 750 g and gestational ages < 27 weeks is necessary to confirm this reference range.

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Elvira ParraviciniM.D. 

Assistant Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University and Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian

3959 Broadway, CHN 1213, New York, NY 10032

Email: ep127@columbia.edu