title: Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels are correlated with the complexity and the severity of atherosclerosis in acute coronary syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a novel inflammatory marker that is released from neutrophils. In this study, we evaluated the correlation between serum NGAL level and clinical and angiographic risk scores in patients diagnosed with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-seven random NSTE-ACS patients and 45 patients with normal coronary arteries (NCA) who underwent coronary angiography were enrolled in the study. GRACE risk score and SYNTAX and Gensini risk scores were used, respectively, for the purpose of clinical risk assessment and angiographic risk scoring. Serum NGAL level was measured via ELISA in peripheral blood samples obtained from the patients at the time of admission.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum NGAL level was significantly higher in the NSTE-ACS group compared to the control group (112.3±49.6 ng/mL vs. 58.1±24.3 ng/mL, p<0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between serum NGAL levels and the GRACE (r=0.533 and p<0.001), SYNTAX (r=0.395 and p=0.006), and Gensini risk scores (r=0.575 and p<0.001). The intermediate-high SYNTAX (>22) group had statistically significantly higher serum NGAL levels compared to the low SYNTAX (≤22) group (143±29.5 ng/mL vs. 98.7±43.2 ng/mL, p=0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NGAL level was positively correlated with lesion complexity and severity of coronary artery disease in patients with NSTE-ACS. Serum NGAL levels on admission are associated with increased burden of atherosclerosis in patients with NSTE-ACS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayıs University; Samsun-Turkey. korhansoylu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Korhan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Soylu
authors.forename: Gökhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aksan
authors.forename: Gökay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nar
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özdemir
authors.forename: Okan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gülel
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: İnci
authors.forename: Aytekin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aksakal
authors.forename: Ayşegül İdil
authors.initials: Aİ
authors.lastname: Soylu
authors.forename: Özcan
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
mesh_terms: D054058:Acute Coronary Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins