RESUMO
ObjectiveTo explore the significance of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (pNGAL) and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) in the diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with cirrhosis. MethodsA total of 78 patients with cirrhosis admitted to our hospital from January 2012 to December 2014 were selected and divided into group A of 38 patients with cirrhosis and AKI and group B of 40 patients with cirrhosis alone. The control group (group C) included 40 healthy people undergoing the routine physical examination. The NGAL concentrations in serum and urine were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The levels of pNGAL, uNGAL, and serum creatinine, as well as glomerular filtration rate (GFR), were compared between different groups. The comparison between different groups was made by one-way ANOVA and simple linear correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship of GFR with pNGAL and uNGAL in group A. ResultsThe NGAL levels in serum and urine in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B and C (all P＜0.01). Staging of AKI was made according to the kidney injury criteria and the NGAL levels in serum and urine significantly increased with AKI stage (all P＜0.01). In group A, NGAL level was negatively correlated with GFR in both serum (r=-0.757, P＜0.05) and urine (r=-0.547, P＜0.05). ConclusionNGAL can be used as an indicator in the diagnosis of AKI in patients with cirrhosis. Early and continuous measurement of serum and urine NGAL levels in patients with cirrhosis and AKI has a great significance in monitoring the progression of renal damage in the patients and developing timely and appropriate intervention measures.