Protein Levels May Predict Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease

Elevated levels of a protein found in the blood and urine may be able to predict the growth of chronic kidney disease that has yet to advance, Italian researchers have found.

The protein, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), is pumped out in large amounts by the kidney when the organ is distressed or injured. Detecting those elevated levels of the protein is a strong and independent predictor of how quickly the disease is progressing, according to a study compiled by colleagues at the University of Messina.

Previous studies have found unusually high levels of the protein in patients with developed kidney disease and impaired kidney function. Also, patients with high levels of NGAL are far more likely to suffer from worsening kidney function within one year when compared to patients with lower levels of the protein.

Protein Linked to Kidney Disease Progression

The Italian study focused on the NGAL levels of 96 patients with an average age of 57 who were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. The levels of the protein were measured, then when reexamined 18 months later, 31 of the patients had experienced significant progression of their kidney disease or end-stage kidney disease, the researcher said.

Patients who had the highest levels of NGAL in their blood and urine also suffered from the greatest progression of their kidney disease, the study found. Meanwhile, patients with the lowest levels of the protein posted the slowest progressions in the study.

“A Great New Tool”

The Italian researchers heralded their findings as “great new tool” to use in the diagnosing and prevention of chronic kidney disease. Measuring NGAL levels in the blood and urine of chronic kidney disease patients could help identify those who are most likely to develop worsening of the disease. Those patients could then be tagged to receive the most aggressive treatments.

The study’s findings were published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology in February 2009.

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