title: The relationship between neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels and the slow coronary flow phenomenon.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is accumulating evidence that inflammation plays a major role in the development of the slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon. In this study, we aimed to study the biomarker neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as it relates to SCF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent coronary angiography before and had no significant epicardial coronary disease were included in the study. Patients who had Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction frame counts (TFCs) above the normal cutoffs were considered to have SCF and those within normal limits were considered to have normal coronary flow (NCF). The NGAL levels and biochemical profiles of all patients were studied and analyzed with coronary flow parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 50 patients in the SCF group and 50 patients in the NCF group. The serum NGAL level was higher in those patients in the SCF group versus the NCF group (75.2±39.7 vs. 50.6±24.2, P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between the NGAL levels and TFC (r=0.684, P<0.001). Multivariable regression analysis showed that the NGAL levels were an independent predictor of the SCF phenomenon (odds ratio=1.060, 95% confidence interval: 1.008-1.115, P=0.023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this study, we show that patients with SCF have elevated levels of NGAL. We further show a strong correlation between the NGAL levels and coronary blood flow. We conclude that elevated NGAL levels might be a useful tool in predicting SCF in patients who undergo coronary angiography.
authors.affiliation: Departments of aCardiology bMicrobiology, Gazi State Hospital cDepartment of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University dDepartment of Cardiology, Samsun Training and Research Hospital, Samsun eDepartmant of Cardiology, Artvin State Hospital, Artvin, Turkey fDepartment of Cardiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aksan
authors.forename: Korhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soylu
authors.forename: Olcay
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aksoy
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yanik
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Gedikli
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gulel
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sahin
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D054318:No-Reflow Phenomenon / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins