Biomarkers of Kidney Injury in Very-low-birth-weight Preterm Infants: Influence of Maternal and Neonatal Factors.

Acute kidney injury is an important cause of mortality in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm infants. As in the general population, the detection of renal damage cannot rely on the measurement of serum creatinine, since it has been demonstrated to be a weak predictor and a delayed indicator of kidney function deterioration. However, several candidate biomarkers have failed to prove sufficient specificity and sensitivity for a routine clinical use because of the poor awareness of their biological role. This study was aimed to investigate the impact of different maternal and neonatal conditions on several renal biomarkers in VLBW preterm infants during the first week of life. Preterm infants<32 weeks' gestation and <1500g were enrolled. We measured urinary biomarkers kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), cystatin C, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and osteopontin (OPN) on the 1st, 3rd, and 7th day after birth. Thirty-tree infants were included. The multivariate analysis showed a significant association between gestational age, the presence of patent ductus arteriosus, antenatal maternal hypertension and the levels of urinary biomarkers. There is a possible relation between early biomarkers of renal injury and antenatal, perinatal and post-natal characteristics in VLBW preterm infants during the first week of life.