The clinical value of the levels of urine NGAL and IL-18 in diabetic nephropathy

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of the levels of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin(NGAL) and interleukin-18(IL-18) in diabetic nephropathy(DN).Methods: According to the urinary albumin/urine creatinine(ACR),98 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were divided into the normal albuminuria group(ACR less than 30 mg/g),micro albuminuria group(ACR ranging from 30 to 300 mg/g) and macro albuminuria group(ACR more than 300 mg/g).Thirty healthy people were set as the control group.The levels of urine NGAL and IL-18 in 4 groups were detected by ELISA,the correlations of which with ACR and glomerular filtration rate(GFR) were analyzed.Results: The levels of urine NGAL and IL-18 in 4 groups increased with the increasing of ACR level(P<0.01).The levels of urine NGAL and IL-18 were positive correlation with the ACR(P<0.01),and negative correlation with the GFR(P<0.01).The level of urine NGAL was positive correlation with the urine IL-18(P<0.01).Conclusions: The levels of urine NGAL and IL-18 increase obviously in DN patients.In addition to the glomerular damage,the renal tubular damage still exists in DN patients,and the renal tubule damage is closely related to the glomerular damage.