The Role of Neutrophil Gelatinase Associated Lipocalin in Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury and Prediction of Patient Outcome in Critically Ill Patients; a Prospective, Observational, Non-randomized Study

Introduction A sudden and prolonged decline in renal function is defined as acute kidney injury (AKI). (1) Frequency of acute kidney injury is ranged from 30% to 67% of critically ill patient.(2,3). Nowadays the main marker used for diagnosis of AKI is serum creatinine which is functional marker, the change in its serum level may be delayed that delay diagnosis and management and may worsen outcome.(4) Within 1-4 hours following ischemic renal insult, NGAL has been shown to be detectable in the serum and urine, but until nowadays it has no clinical usage.(5, 6).

Patients and methods:

This single-center prospective non-randomized observational research has been performed on 120 cases, admitted to the critical care unit of the Sohag University Hospital between April 2020 and June 2022. A written and informed agreement was obtained from each patient or his first-degree guardian after clearance by the Sohag Faculty of Medicine's Ethics and Research Committee under IRB Registration Number: Soh-Med-23-01-31.

Inclusion criteria: All severely sick ICU patients older than 18 years old were included in the study.

Exclusion criteria: Patients with known chronic renal disease, those receiving hemodialysis, those with transplanted kidney, those with known kidney cancer, and patients who were just released from the ICU.