Effect of preeclampsia and its severity on maternal serum NGAL and KIM-1 levels during pregnancy and the post-pregnancy period

Objective: The purpose of this trial was to appraise the effects of preeclampsia and its intensity on maternal serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) levels during pregnancy and the post-pregnancy period. Study design: Firstly pregnant participants (n = 156) were separated into three groups, as control, mild, and severe preeclampsia. Secondly women in post-pregnancy period (n = 368) were separated into three groups according to history of pregnancy, as healthy control, mild, and severe preeclampsia. These women were identified through the hospital data system and contacted by telephone to participate in the study. Results: Our study comprised 147 patients, 77 of whom were pregnant and 70 of whom were in their postpregnancy period after the exclusion criteria had been applied. In terms of maternal serum NGAL levels, there is a significant increase in the severe preeclampsia group compared with that in the mild preeclampsia and normal pregnancy groups (p < 0.001). During the post-pregnancy period, the maternal serum NGAL levels were found significantly higher in the severe preeclampsia group than in the mild preeclampsia group and non-hypertension control group (p < 0.001). Maternal serum KIM-1 levels were found as significantly higher in the severe and mild preeclampsia groups than in the non-hypertension pregnancy group (p = 0.004). During the post-pregnancy period, maternal serum KIM-1 levels were found as similar among all post pregnant groups (p = 0.792). Conclusions: Our results indicated that as the severity of preeclampsia increases, kidney damage as assessed using NGAL levels continues for a long period of time, even during the post-pregnancy period. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study revealed that as the severity of preeclampsia increases, kidney damage assessed using NGAL levels continues for a long period of time.