Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40849613›Full record

SynthesisBMC nephrology2025

Use of urinary NGAL in steroid-resistant vs. steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aymen Abdalla, Abdelrahman Ali, I O Abufatima, Saeed Majzoub, Tasneem A E Elbasheer, Sara M A O Ahmed, Seima Osman, Yousra K K Khalid, Ahmed Elamir, Hiba K K Khalid and 2 more

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-AnalysisComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC nephrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Aymen Abdalla *Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Alqasr Avenue, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan.
Abdelrahman Ali *University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.
I O Abufatima *University of Medical Sciences and Technology, Khartoum, Sudan.
Saeed MajzoubThe James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK.
Tasneem A E ElbasheerFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Alqasr Avenue, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan.
Sara M A O AhmedFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Alqasr Avenue, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan.
Seima OsmanIpswich Hospital, ESNEFT, Ipswich, UK.
Yousra K K KhalidFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Alqasr Avenue, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan.
Ahmed ElamirFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Alqasr Avenue, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan.
Hiba K K KhalidFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Alqasr Avenue, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan.
Nihal M A AbdelmutalibCavan General Hospital, Cavan, Ireland.
Sagad O O MohamedFaculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Alqasr Avenue, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan. s.oom123@yahoo.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNephrotic syndrome is a common glomerular disorder. Treatment typically begins with corticosteroids, but patient response varies. Differentiating between steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) and steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) early in the disease course is important, as SRNS is associated with a higher risk of poor long-term outcomes. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a biomarker released in response to tubular injury, has emerged as a potential non-invasive marker for renal damage.

methodsWe conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting NGAL levels in SSNS and SRNS, based on the PRISMA guidelines. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and the WHO Virtual Health Library Regional. The statistical analysis was performed using a random-effects model to estimate the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval.

resultsA total of 16 studies were included. Meta-analyses revealed significantly higher urinary NGAL levels in both SSNS and SRNS patients compared to healthy controls. Urinary NGAL levels were significantly higher in SSNS and SRNS patients compared to healthy controls, with SMD = 0.78 (95% CI: 0.434-1.128, P < .001) and SMD = 2.56 (95% CI: 1.152-3.971, P < .001), respectively. Patients with SRNS had markedly higher urinary NGAL levels than those with SSNS (SMD = 1.889, 95% CI: 0.819-2.959, P < .001). ROC analyses across several studies demonstrated moderate to strong discriminative ability of urinary NGAL in distinguishing between SRNS and SSNS.

conclusionUrinary NGAL demonstrated strong potential as a non-invasive biomarker for distinguishing between SRNS and SSNS, supporting its clinical utility in early diagnosis, risk stratification, and management.

Indexed as

Lipocalin-2Nephrotic SyndromeBiomarkersDiagnosis, DifferentialDrug ResistanceHumansBiomarkersLCN2 protein, humanLipocalin-2Nephrotic syndromeNGALNGAL/CrSteroid resistant nephrotic syndromeSteroid sensitive nephrotic syndromeSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID40849613
PMCPMC12374481

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.