Lipocalin-2 as a marker of bacterial infections in chronic liver disease: a study in Egyptian children.

Bacterial infections are common in chronic liver disease, and may precipitate other complications, such as encephalopathy and hepatorenal syndrome. The physiologic functions of lipocalin-2 remain poorly understood. Our aim was to elucidate lipocalin-2 as a useful marker of bacterial infections in children with CLD. A total of 79 children were enrolled in the study; 29 CLD with bacterial infection (infected group); 25 with CLD without bacterial infection (uninfected group); and 25 as controls. Serum lipocalin-2 level was measured in all children. A battery of laboratory investigations was also performed on all study children. Lipocalin-2 was higher in the infected than uninfected group (P<0.05). Lipocalin-2 level was not different between uninfected and control groups (P>0.05). Lipocalin-2 at cutoff value of 48.1 ng/ml could predict bacterial infection in the subclinical subgroup, versus uninfected groups with sensitivity 100% and NPV 100%. Lipocalin-2 is a promising marker, particularly for, early detection of bacterial infection.