Background: We reported that urinary
L-FABP reflected the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study is aimed to evaluate the clinical significance
of urinary liver type fatty acid binding protein (
L-FABP) as a biomarker for monitoring CKD.
Methods: Urinary
L-FABP was measured using human
L-FABP ELISA kit (CMIC.Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan). The relations between urinary
L-FABP and clinical parameters were evaluated in non-diabetic CKD (
n = 48) for a year. In order to evaluate the influence of serum
L-FABP derived from liver upon urinary
L-FABP, both serum and urinary
L-FABP were simultaneously measured in patients with CKD (
n = 73).
Results: For monitoring CKD, the cut-off value in urinary
L-FABP was determined as 17.4 μg/g.cr. by using a receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Renal function deteriorated
significantly more in patients with ‘high’ urinary
L-FABP (
n = 36) than in those with ‘low’
L-FABP (
n = 12). The decrease in creatinine clearance was accompanied by an increase in urinary
L-FABP, but not in urinary protein. Serum
L-FABP in patients with CKD was not correlated with urinary
L-FABP.
Conclusion: Urinary excretion of
L-FABP increases with the deterioration of renal function. Serum
L-FABP did not influence on urinary
L-FABP. Urinary
L-FABP may be a useful clinical biomarker for monitoring CKD.
Key words L-FABP - fatty acid binding protein - fatty acid - chronic kidney disease - tubulointerstitial damage