Biochemical markers of acute kidney injury and hepatic function in gestational diabetes mellitus: A comparative study

Abstract

One-third of diabetics develop renal and liver disease, which costs global health systems money and resources. The study examines hepatic indices, duration, and glucose levels and assesses neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a sensitive marker for acute kidney injury (AKI) in gestational diabetes. This study recruited 30 non-gestational pregnant hospital ante-natal clinic patients and 30 non-diabetic controls without pregnancy. Standard techniques were used to collect and analyze fasting blood sugar, renal, and hepatic biomarkers. Significant findings were determined by conducting statistical analysis with P <0.05. Gestational diabetes (GDM) and pregnant women without gestational diabetes (PNGDM) showed significantly higher levels (p<0.05) of NGAL, urea, and creatinine compared to non-pregnant women without diabetes (NPNDM). Compared to women without pregnancy or diabetes (NPNDM), there was a significant difference in mean values of fasting blood sugar (FBS), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutaryl glutaminase transferase (GGT) among gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and PNGDM (p<0.05). NGAL had a higher AUROC of 0.684 compared to urea and creatinine. This study shows the significance of plasma NGAL levels as a biomarker for AKI in gestational diabetes. Furthermore, the findings of this study reveal that derangements in hepatic parameters are extensively co-existent in GDM.