Predictive value of serum ngal (neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin) level in the early diagnosis of contrast agency nephopathy

Our study aimed the early diagnostic role of serum NGAL level in patients with conrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). We designed a prospective study with 74 patients who underwent contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) between the dates 01.11.2014 and 28.02.2015. We evaluated each patient for their demographic information (age, gender), symptoms, the values for sodium, potassium, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine, CT findings and the NGAL level. The values for sodium, potassium, BUN, creatinine and NGAL were noted at 0th, 6th and 72nd hours. Data was analyzed; we used Student T-Test to evaluate the parametric data, Mann-Whitney U Test for non-parametric data analysis, Chi-square test for qualitative data analysis and Fridman Test for the analysis of data changes over time. P value below 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. 6,2 % of patients developed CIN. The mean age of patients with CIN was higher (p<0,05). There was no relationship with the development of CIN and gender (p>0.05). We saw no difference between groups and their sodium, potassium levels but we noted significant elevation of sodium level over time in all patients (p<0.05). There was no difference between the 0th and 6th hours of value for BUN in groups (p>0.05) whereas the BUN level at the 72nd hours in CIN group was shown to be elevated significantly (p<0.05). The elevation of BUN level didn't significant between groups. (p<0.05). Creatinine level didn't show significant difference between groups (p>0.05), but a significant elevation of creatinine level over time was noted (p<0.05). There was no difference of value for NGAL at the 0th and 72nd hours between groups (p>0.05) whereas a significant elevation of NGAL level was noted at the 6th hour in CIN group (p<0.05). The cut-off value for NGAL was shown to be 972,5 at where the sensitivity and specifity were 66,7% and 98,4% respectively. AUC level was 0,98 (min: 0,953, max: 1,000). The elevation of NGAL level at the 6th hour and the decrease at the 72nd hour were both statistically significant (p<0.05). As a result: Measurement of NGAL level can be a useful clinical tool to predict CIN development. Key words: Contrast media-induced nephropathy, NGAL, acute kidney injury,