Comparison of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Versus B-Type Natriuretic Peptide and Cystatin C to Predict Early Acute Kidney Injury and Outcome in Patients With Acute Heart Failure.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been described in chronic heart failure (HF) as marker of tubular damage and renal dysfunction; however, less data are available in patients with acute HF. Because of high rate of acute kidney injury (AKI) development, we aimed to investigate the role of NGAL in predicting early AKI development; second, we compared NGAL with respect to cystatin C, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), renal function, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) for outcome prediction. We measured admission serum NGAL, cystatin C, and BNP in 231 patients affected to acute HF; all patients were submitted to daily creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, and measurement to identify inhospital AKI defined by Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage Kidney Disease and Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. We also measured admission and discharge estimated glomerular filtration rate, creatinine, and BUN to evaluate their prognostic role during a 6-month follow-up period; 78 patients developed AKI during hospitalization. In these subjects, NGAL levels were significantly increased respect to patients without AKI (295 ± 228 vs 129 ± 108 ng/ml, p <0.001). A cutoff of 134 ng/ml has been related to AKI with good sensibility and specificity (85% and 80%, respectively; area under the curve 0.81, p <0.001). BNP was also mildly increased (1,000 ± 906 vs 746 ± 580 pg/ml, p = 0.03) but not cystatin C. Patients with chronic kidney disease demonstrated higher NGAL levels compared with subjects with preserved renal function (258 ± 249 and 120 ± 77 ng/ml, p <0.001). The receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis demonstrated that increased NGAL values were associated with increased mortality (cutoff 170 ng/ml, sensibility 60%, specificity 82%, accuracy 71%, area under the curve 0.77, p <0.001). The same significant correlation was also found for BUN at discharge (cutoff 100 mg/dl, sensibility 65%, specificity 85%, accuracy 71%, area under the curve 0.77, p <0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that cutoff 170 ng/ml was related with adverse outcome (hazard ratio 1.77, confidence interval 1.24 to 2.83, p = 0.01). In conclusion, NGAL measurement is a sensible tool to predict AKI during hospitalization. Elevated NGAL levels appear to be related to BUN increase and post-discharge outcome. This suggests a prognostic role of tubular damage beyond renal dysfunction.

Palazzuoli A ，Ruocco G ，Pellegrini M ，De Gori C ，Del Castillo G ，Franci B ，Nuti R ，Ronco C ... -  《-》

Admission plasma neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) predicts worsening renal function during hospitalization and post discharge outcome in patients with acute heart failure.

Palazzuoli A ，Ruocco G ，Beltrami M ，Franci B ，Pellegrini M ，Lucani B ，Nuti R ，Ronco C ... -  《-》

A combined cardiorenal assessment for the prediction of acute kidney injury in lower respiratory tract infections.

The accurate prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) is an unmet clinical need. A combined assessment of cardiac stress and renal tubular damage might improve early AKI detection. A total of 372 consecutive patients presenting to the Emergency Department with lower respiratory tract infections were enrolled. Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels were measured in a blinded fashion at presentation. The potential of these biomarkers to predict AKI was assessed as the primary endpoint. AKI was defined according to the AKI Network classification. Overall, 16 patients (4%) experienced early AKI. These patients were more likely to suffer from preexisting chronic cardiac disease or diabetes mellitus. At presentation, BNP (334 pg/mL [130-1119] vs 113 pg/mL [52-328], P <.01) and NGAL (269 ng/mL [119-398] vs 96 ng/mL [60-199], P <.01) levels were significantly higher in AKI patients. The predictive accuracy of presentation BNP and NGAL levels was comparable (BNP 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-0.84 vs NGAL 0.74; 95% CI, 0.61-0.87). In a combined logistic model, a joint BNP/NGAL approach improved the predictive accuracy for early AKI over either biomarker alone (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.82; 95% CI, 0.74-0.89). The combined categorical cut point defined by BNP >267 pg/mL or NGAL >231 ng/mL correctly identified 15 of 16 early AKI patients (sensitivity 94%, specificity 61%). During multivariable regression analysis, the combined BNP/NGAL cutoff remained the independent predictor of early AKI (hazard ratio 10.82; 95% CI, 1.22-96.23; P = .03). A model combining the markers BNP and NGAL is a powerful predictor of early AKI in patients with lower respiratory tract infection.

Breidthardt T ，Christ-Crain M ，Stolz D ，Bingisser R ，Drexler B ，Klima T ，Balmelli C ，Schuetz P ，Haaf P ，Schärer M ，Tamm M ，Müller B ，Müller C ... -  《-》

Neutrophil gelatinase--associated lipocalin predicts acute kidney injury in patients undergoing liver transplantation.

Postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) increases morbidity and mortality after liver transplantation (LT). Novel methods of assessing AKI including cystatin C (CyC) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) have been identified as potential markers of AKI. We compare the ability of standard renal markers (serum creatinine [sCr], estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] and intensive therapy unit organ failure scores with CyC and NGAL to predict AKI within the first 48 hours after LT. 95 patients (median age 50 [interquartile range = 41-59], 60% male) underwent LT (25% with acute liver failure). AKI was defined according to the Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. Severe AKI was classified as ≥stage 2. NGAL (urine [u] and plasma [p]) and CyC concentrations taken immediately after transplantation on admission to the Liver Intensive Care Unit were compared with standard markers of renal function. Predictive ability was assessed using the area under the curve generated by receiver operator characteristic analysis (AUROC) and logistic regression. Day 0 sCr, uNGAL, pNGAL, CyC, and eGFR predicted AKI as did SOFA (Sequential Organ Failure Assessment) and APACHE II (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II) scores. APACHE II and pNGAL were the most powerful predictors of severe AKI (APACHE II AUROC = 0.87 [0.77-0.97], P < 0.001; pNGAL AUROC = 0.87 [0.77-0.92], P < 0.001). Using multivariate logistic regression, APACHE II (odds ratio 1.64/point [95% confidence interval = 1.22-2.21, P = 0.001] and pNGAL [odds ratio = 1.01/ng/mL [95% confidence interval = 1.00-1.02], P = 0.002) retained independent significance. A "renal risk score" using APACHE II > 13 and pNGAL > 258 ng/mL was calculated with a score of ≥1 having a 100% sensitivity and 76% specificity for severe AKI. In conclusion, a combination of NGAL and APACHE II predicts AKI with high sensitivity and specificity after LT.

Portal AJ ，McPhail MJ ，Bruce M ，Coltart I ，Slack A ，Sherwood R ，Heaton ND ，Shawcross D ，Wendon JA ，Heneghan MA ... -  《-》

Novel and conventional serum biomarkers predicting acute kidney injury in adult cardiac surgery--a prospective cohort study.

Haase-Fielitz A ，Bellomo R ，Devarajan P ，Story D ，Matalanis G ，Dragun D ，Haase M ... -  《-》