The value of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and neutrophil / lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of preeclampsia and its severity

Abstract

Many hypotheses underlie the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. This study aims to evaluate Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (a marker of immune hypothesis) and Neutrophil / Lymphocyte ratio (a marker of inflammation) in the diagnosis of preeclampsia and its severity and to determine the correlation between them. Study design: This randomized case-control study involved 132 pregnant women; 88 were diagnosed with PE (divided into non-severe and severe groups), and 44 healthy pregnant women as a control group. Results: The mean serum level of NGL was significantly higher in PE (535.37 ± 158.61 ng / ml for severe PE, 522.5 ± 106.3 ng / ml for non-severe PE, and 161.96 ± 17.48 ng / ml for the control group). The ROC Curve NGL criteria of more than 204.4 ng / ml showed 100% sensitivity and specificity in both severe and non-severe cases versus control. The N / L ratio showed a significant difference (5.81 ± 5.24 for severe PE, 4.1 ± 3.41 for non-severe PE, and 3.89 ± 1.79 for the control group), but the ROC curve criterion was not significant. Both showed a non-significant positive correla-tion. Conclusion: NGL is an excellent diagnostic factor, whereas N / L might have lower diagnostic performance compared with NGL. Both are related independently to the pathophysiology of PE. J. Med. Invest. 68: 321-325, August, 2021.