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Comparative Study
. 2025 Feb 15;184(3):201.
doi: 10.1007/s00431-025-06017-8.

Enhanced mortality prediction in pediatric sepsis using NGAL: A comparison with PRISM III scores in critical care settings

Marwa Ibrahem AbdelRazic  1 , Gehan Lotfy Abdel Hakeem  2 , Mina Sobhy Hanna  2 , Omima M Mohamed  3 , Ibtehal Saad Abuelela  2
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Enhanced mortality prediction in pediatric sepsis using NGAL: A comparison with PRISM III scores in critical care settings

Marwa Ibrahem AbdelRazic et al. Eur J Pediatr. .

Abstract

Sepsis is a critical condition that disrupts metabolic, physiological, and immune functions, often resulting in severe complications such as multi-organ failure and increased mortality. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has emerged as a promising biomarker for infection and inflammation, offering potential advantages for early mortality prediction. This study compared the predictive value of serum NGAL levels with pediatric risk of mortality III (PRISM III) scores in critically ill pediatric patients with sepsis. A prospective cohort study was conducted at a tertiary hospital from September 2022 to March 2023, involving 75 pediatric patients diagnosed with sepsis, septic shock, or multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), along with 25 healthy controls. Serum NGAL levels were measured within the first hour of PICU admission and analyzed alongside PRISM III scores to evaluate their correlation with mortality and sepsis severity. The results demonstrated that serum NGAL levels were significantly elevated in septic patients compared to controls, with the highest levels observed in those with MODS. NGAL showed greater sensitivity and specificity for predicting mortality than PRISM III scores, with ROC curve analysis revealing that NGAL levels > 599 mg/ml were strongly associated with increased mortality risk (sensitivity 70.4% and specificity 50%). Multivariate analysis confirmed NGAL as an independent predictor of mortality, outperforming PRISM III scores in identifying severe cases.

Conclusion: Serum NGAL is a valuable biomarker for early prediction of mortality and sepsis severity in pediatric patients, providing faster and more accurate assessments than PRISM III scores. Its integration into clinical practice may enhance decision-making in pediatric critical care settings, allowing for timely interventions and improved patient outcomes.

What is known: • Pediatric risk of mortality III (Prism III) scores is widely used to predict sepsis severity and mortality in pediatric intensive care units, but requiring 12-24 hours to complete. Neutrophil is an established biomarker for inflammation and infection with a potentially anti-pathological value in the neutrophil gelatinus-lipocalin (NGAL) sepsis.

What is new: • Serum NGAL levels, PICU is measured within the first hour of entry, prism III score in pediatric patients in predicting mortality and severity of sepsis. > An NGAL cutoff of 599 mg/mL is significantly associated with mortality risk, which provides a rapid, independent and more immediate immunity tool for important care decision making.

Keywords: Pediatric patients; Prognostic value and severity; Sepsis; Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Consent to participate and ethics approval: The investigation was approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Faculty of Medicine before data collection. The permission number is 388:2022. Authorization for publication.: Parents/legal guardians provided written informed consent. Conflicting interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
ROC curve analysis for NGAL and PRISM for prediction of mortality
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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