Neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL): a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL): a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Authors

  • Elio Antonucci Post-Graduate School of Emergency-Urgency Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Giuseppe Lippi Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry and Hematology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Andrea Ticinesi Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy and Internal Medicine and Critical Subacute Care Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Federica Pigna Post-Graduate School of Emergency-Urgency Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Loredana Guida Internal Medicine and Critical Subacute Care Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Ilaria Morelli Internal Medicine and Critical Subacute Care Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Antonio Nouvenne Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy and Internal Medicine and Critical Subacute Care Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Loris Borghi Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
  • Tiziana Meschi Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Parma, Italy and Internal Medicine and Critical Subacute Care Unit, University Hospital of Parma, Parma, Italy

Keywords:

Acute kidney injury, acute renal failure, biomarkers, NGAL

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication that occurs in a broad spectrum of clinical settings. Cardiac surgery-associated AKI continues to be a well-recognized complication of cardiac surgery with high morbidity and mortality. The lack of early biomarkers has for long prevented timely interventions to mitigate the effects of AKI. Serum creatinine is not a timely marker of AKI, so that it cannot be used to set potentially effective therapies to treat AKI in patients during phases when the injury is still potentially reversible. Neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been identified as a promising biomarker for early detection of AKI. Several studies have shown that NGAL levels significantly increase in AKI patients 24 to 48 hours before a detectable increase of serum creatinine. Recent studies also suggest that measurements of urinary NGAL levels in patients at risk for cardiac surgery–associated AKI may facilitate its early diagnosis and allow clinicians to implement therapeutic adjustments that have the potential to reverse renal cellular damage and minimize further kidney injury.

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Published

17-12-2014

Issue

Vol. 85 No. 3 (2014): Acta BioMed 3-2014

Section

Up to date

License

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

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How to Cite

1.
Antonucci E, Lippi G, Ticinesi A, et al. Neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin (NGAL): a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). Acta Biomed. 2014;85(3):289-294. Accessed December 9, 2024. https://www.mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/actabiomedica/article/view/3552