This finding underpins the value of NGAL as a biomarker of early renal damage in T1D, since NGAL had a positive correlation with the duration of T1D, mainly when eGFR was decreased, and this finding may reflect a progress of the early renal structural damage occurring during the disease, even if eGFR remains within the normal range. Here, LCN2 is linked to type 1 diabetes mellitus.