TITLE:
Correlation between Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin and Burn Severity: A Pilot Study
AUTHORS:
Sungjun Lee, Suyeol Lee, Youngwhan Choi, Song Vogue Ahn, Cheonjae Yoon, Jungsuk Lee
KEYWORDS:
Serum Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin, Total Body Surface Area, Abbreviated Burn Severity Index, Organ Damage, Prognosis of Burns
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.5 No.1,
January
5,
2017
ABSTRACT: The severity of an initial burn injury is critical for determining the treatment plan and prognosis of burn patients. Here, we measured serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels to determine whether NGAL can be used as a biomarker for severity of burn injuries. A study of the demographic, clinical, and laboratory markers for various organ damage was performed at Bestian Burn Center (n = 10 healthy people, n = 31 patients). NGAL and organ damage marker levels were measured in 31 patients with severe burns within 2 - 3 days following their admission to the intensive care unit. Serum NGAL level of the expired patients was 788.5 (685.0 - 998.0) pg/mL, whereas that of the discharged patients was 421.2 (356.2 - 480.6) pg/mL, showing that the initial serum NGAL level can be used to estimate mortality. We also determined the correlation between serum NGAL level and the currently used severity markers (total body surface area burned and abbreviated burn severity index) and confirmed that serum NGAL level could be used as a severity marker. We also found that serum NGAL level was correlated with damage of organs such as the liver, kidney, heart, and respiratory organs in patients with severe burns.