Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in inflammatory bowel disease: association with pathophysiology of inflammation, established markers, and disease activity

Background Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a multi-potent 25-kDa protein mainly secreted by neutrophils. In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), overexpression of NGAL in colon epithelium has been previously shown. This is the first study analyzing serum and urinary NGAL levels in IBD patients, with regard to specific characteristics of patients and disease. Methods Serum and urinary NGAL levels were determined in 181 patients with IBD, 93 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 88 with Crohn’s disease (CD), 82 healthy controls (HC), and 41 patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Results Serum NGAL levels were elevated in IBD patients (88.19 ± 40.75 ng/mL) compared with either HC (60.06 ± 24.18 ng/mL) or IBS patients (60.80 ± 20.30 ng/mL), P