Urinary neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL), a marker of tubular damage, is increased in patients with chronic heart failure.
Renal impairment, as measured by reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and increased urinary albumin excretion (UAE), is prevalent in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and is associated with reduced survival. The prevalence of structural tubular damage in CHF is unknown. We investigated 90 CHF patients and 20 age and sex matched healthy controls, and determined estimated GFR, UAE, N terminal-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and urinary neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a marker for tubular damage. CHF patients had significantly lower averaged estimated GFR (64+/-17 vs 90+/-12 mL/min/1.73 m(2), P<0.0001), but higher NT-proBNP and UAE levels (both P<0.0001). Median urinary NGAL levels were markedly increased in CHF patients compared to controls (175 (70-346) vs 37 (6-58) microg/gCr, P<0.0001). Both serum creatinine (r=0.26, P=0.006) and eGFR (r=-0.29, P=0.002) were significantly associated with urinary NGAL levels as were NT-proBNP and UAE but to a lesser extent. In conclusion, renal impairment in CHF patients is not only characterised by decreased eGFR and increased UAE, but also by the presence of tubular damage, as measured by increased urinary NGAL concentrations.
Damman
Kevin
K
Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
van Veldhuisen
Dirk J
DJ
Navis
Gerjan
G
Voors
Adriaan A
AA
Hillege
Hans L
HL
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000652:urine*; D000418:Albumins; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003401:Creatine / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000473:pathology*; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000652:urine*; D013318:Stroke Volume; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000418:Albumins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C109794:pro-brain natriuretic peptide (1-76); D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D003401:Creatine