Importance of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Differential Diagnosis of Acute and Chronic Renal Failure

Background: Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin (NGAL) protein is easily detected in the blood and urine soon after acute renal injury NGAL gains features of an early, sensitive and noninvasive biomarker for acute renal injury Recent evidences suggest that its expression is also increased in CRF reflecting the severity of disease. Objectives: In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether blood NGAL level plays a role in the differential diagnosis of acute and chronic renal failure. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective case-control study. Fifty patients presented to emergency department with acute renal failure (ARF), 30 with chronic renal failure (CRF) and 20 healthy individuals as control group were included in this study Blood pH, HCO3(-), BUN, creatinine and potassium values were evaluated in all patients. Blood NGAL values were evaluated in all groups. BUN, serum creatinine and NGAL values were statistically compared between patients and controls. Results: Median NGAL levels in patients was 304.50 (29), and 60 (0) in control, which was statistically significant between the two groups (Z = -6.477, P 0.05). Median creatinine values were 2.84 +/- 2.95 in ARF group and 4.78 +/- 4.32 in CRF group. In serum creatinine values, a significant difference was found between ARF and CRE groups (P