# Utility of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in identifying septic cavitary effusions in dogs

## TL;DR

This study shows that measuring NGAL in body fluids can help identify septic effusions in dogs, similar to its use in humans.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates that NGAL in effusions is a novel and effective marker for septic effusions in dogs.

## Key findings

- Effusion NGAL concentrations were significantly higher in septic cases compared to other causes of effusion.
- Serum NGAL levels did not differ significantly between groups, but effusion NGAL levels were diagnostic for sepsis.

## Abstract

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is an accurate marker of septic cavitary effusions in people.

To evaluate the utility of serum and effusion NGAL concentrations in differentiating septic effusions from effusions caused by other etiologies in dogs.

Fifty dogs with pleural or peritoneal effusion.

Ten dogs were prospectively enrolled into each of 5 groups based on effusion etiology: hypoalbuminemia, increased hydrostatic pressure, neoplastic, inflammatory, and septic. Concentrations of NGAL were measured in both serum and effusion.

While median serum NGAL concentrations did not significantly differ between dogs with hypoalbuminemia (24.8 ng/mL, range 5.0–110.0 ng/mL), increased hydrostatic pressure (13.2 ng/mL, range 5.8–46.9 ng/mL), abdominal neoplasia (13.8 ng/mL, range 3.2–27.3 ng/mL), inflammatory (15.8 ng/mL, 5.6–36.6 ng/mL), or septic causes (19.2 ng/mL, range 7.2–64.8 ng/mL) of effusion (P = .272), median effusion NGAL concentrations were significantly higher in the septic group (194.4 ng/mL, range 120.0–1471.1ng/mL) than in the hypoalbuminemic (10.7 ng/mL, range 4.1–27.8 ng/mL, P < .001), hydrostatic (22.7 ng/mL, range 11.3–56.7 ng/mL, P < .001), neoplastic (65 ng/mL, range 15.7–215.3 ng/mL, P < .001), or inflammatory (45 ng/mL, range 33.8–195 ng/mL, P < .001) groups.

Concentrations of NGAL in effusions were significantly higher in septic effusions than in effusions of other etiologies. These findings suggest that effusion NGAL concentrations could be a helpful marker in the identification of cases with septic effusion.