The Role of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (Ngal) in the Determination of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography

OBJECTIVE: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the acute kidney injury developing following the administration of contrast agent after all other reasons are excluded. We aimed to determine the role of NGAL in the urine for early diagnosis of contrast-induced nephropathy, as the disorder is an important reason of acute renal failure in cases subject to cardiac catheterization clinical practice, and the frequency is increasing.

MATERIAL and METHODS: One hundred cases undergoing elective coronary angiography between the dates of January 1st 2011 and March 1st 2011 were included in the study. Urine samples of the patients were taken maximum 4 hours after the coronary angiography to check the urinary NGAL level.

RESULTS: The creatinine level had increased 25% in 8 patients at the 48th hour following angiography and this was accepted as CIN. Using a cutoff value of 100 ng/ml, urinary NGAL levels were found to elevated in these 8 patients, consisting of 6 females and 2 males. All them had hypertension (HT) by itself or with other accompanying diseases.

CONCLUSION: The CIN diagnosis can be made with the conventional method of measuring the level of creatinine in the blood 48 hours after surgery but using the urinary NGAL method can fasten the diagnosis and treatment and also can shorten hospital stays.