Objective To study the clinical significance ofneutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), which in serial plasma and urine samples was measured in participants with lupus nephritis (LN)and healthy persons. Methods NGAL in serial plasma and urine samples was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (EL.ISA) in 35 patients with LN by 1997 ACR systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)standard with varied degree of kidney damage and 30 healthy persons with matching sex and age in physical examination center. Disease activity was measured by the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI-2K),and 35LN patients were classified in active group and (25 cases) non-active group (10 cases) according to the SLEDAI-2K. Results Urinary NGAL were significantly increased in LN patients [(78.94 ± 81.97) μg/L]compared with healthy persons[(28.50 ± 18.08) μ g/L] (P = 0.002). And urinary NGAL were significantly increased in active group [(92.90 ± 94.88) μg/L] compared with non-active group [(48.20 ± 24.77)μ g/L] (P = 0.049). NGAL in serial plasma had no statistically significant difference between active group and non-active group (P ＞0.05). Conclusions NGAL in urine but not in plasma represents a novel biomarker for renal disease activity in LN. The increase might be related to renal tubule pathological changes.