Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin: a biochemical marker for acute kidney injury and long-term outcomes in patients presenting to the emergency department.

Kah Hui Brian Teo; Swee Han Lim; Ying Hao; Yin Keong Daryl LO; Ziwei Lin; Manish Kaushik; Chieh Suai Tan; Mohammed Zuhary Thajudeen; Choon Peng Jeremy Wee

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Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin: a biochemical marker for acute kidney injury and long-term outcomes in patients presenting to the emergency department.

Author: Kah Hui Brian TEO ¹ ; Swee Han LIM ² ; Ying HAO ³ ; Yin Keong Daryl LO ⁴ ; Ziwei LIN ⁵ ; Manish KAUSHIK ⁶ ; Chieh Suai TAN ⁶ ; Mohammed Zuhary THAJUDEEN ² ; Choon Peng JEREMY WEE ²
Author Information

1. Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
2. Department of Emergency Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
3. SingHealth Health Services Research Centre, Singapore.
4. Department of Internal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
5. Emergency Medicine Department, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore.
6. Department of Renal Medicine, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Acute kidney injury; congestive cardiac failure; emergency department; neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; systemic inflammatory response syndrome
MeSH: Humans; Lipocalin-2; Prospective Studies; Lipocalins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins; Acute-Phase Proteins; Biomarkers; Acute Kidney Injury/diagnosis*; Emergency Service, Hospital; Predictive Value of Tests
From:Singapore medical journal 2023;64(8):479-486
CountrySingapore
Language:English
Abstract: INTRODUCTION:Creatinine has limitations in identifying and predicting acute kidney injury (AKI). Our study examined the utility of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in predicting AKI in patients presenting to the emergency department (ED), and in predicting the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and all-cause mortality at three months post visit.
METHODS:This is a single-centre prospective cohort study conducted at Singapore General Hospital (SGH). Patients presenting to SGH ED from July 2011 to August 2012 were recruited. They were aged ≥21 years, with an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m², and had congestive cardiac failure, systemic inflammatory response syndrome or required hospital admission. AKI was diagnosed by researchers blinded to experimental measurements. Serum NGAL was measured as a point-of-care test.
RESULTS:A total of 784 patients were enrolled, of whom 107 (13.6%) had AKI. Mean serum NGAL levels were raised (P < 0.001) in patients with AKI (670.0 ± 431.9 ng/dL) compared with patients without AKI (490.3 ± 391.6 ng/dL). The sensitivity and specificity of NGAL levels >490 ng/dL for AKI were 59% (95% confidence interval [CI] 49%-68%) and 65% (95% CI 61%-68%), respectively. Need for RRT increased 21% per 100 ng/dL increase in NGAL (P < 0.001), whereas odds of death in three months increased 10% per 100 ng/dL increase in NGAL (P = 0.028). No clear relationship was observed between NGAL levels and MACE.
CONCLUSION:Serum NGAL identifies AKI and predicts three-month mortality.