Background: Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein which is associated with various inflammatory conditions affecting human tissues, such as those in the respiratory, gastro-enteric and urinary tracts, with a marked increase in the local and systemic expression. Different experimental evidences reveal that NGAL is required for the induction and pathogenesis of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).Methods: The present study was conducted in department of Biochemistry in a tertiary care institute of Haryana. 30 cases of CML were included in the study. It was a hospital based observational study which was conducted for one-year duration. Apart from routine biochemical investigations, serum NGAL estimation was done before the initiation of therapy and after 3 months of therapy.Results: The median age at presentation was 39 years. Male to female ratio was 1.3:1. Weight loss was the most common presentation of patients (53.3%). More than half of the cases occurred in age group of 21-40 years. Serum NGAL was significantly higher in CML patients (358.47±125.65) before treatment as compared to serum NGAL value after treatment (85.03±62.77). In patients who achieved hematological remission, mean serum NGAL levels (62.46 ng/ml±23.72) were statistically lower than mean serum NGAL values in patients who did not achieve remission (231.75 ng/ml±16.7).Conclusions: The present study concluded that serum NGAL levels can be used as diagnostic and prognostic marker in CML.
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a prognostic marker in chronic myeloid Leukemia: an observational study