Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin levels and risk of future incident venous thromboembolism.

BACKGROUND

Although neutrophils are suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE), no study has investigated whether neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), a marker of neutrophil activation, is associated with future VTE risk in the general population.

AIM: To investigate the association between plasma NGAL levels and the risk of future VTE.

METHODS

Plasma NGAL levels were measured in 416 VTE cases and 848 age- and sex-matched controls in a nested case-control study derived from the Tromsø study cohort (1994-2007). Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for VTE according to quartiles of plasma NGAL adjusted for age, sex, body mass index, arterial cardiovascular disease, cancer, and C-reactive protein. Separate analyses with follow-up restricted to the first 2- and 5 years after cohort inclusion were conducted to investigate potential short-term associations.

RESULTS

We found no association between NGAL levels and risk of future VTE when analyzing the entire study period (OR for highest vs. lowest quartile of NGAL: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.70-1.51). However, when follow-up was restricted to 2 years, higher NGAL levels were associated with increased risk of future VTE (OR 3.87, 95% CI 1.15-13.03). The association was attenuated when follow-up was extended to 5 years (OR: 1.51, 95% CI: 0.82-2.80).

CONCLUSION

Higher plasma NGAL levels were associated with a transiently increased risk of future VTE.