title: Role of Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in the Diagnosis and Early Treatment of Acute Kidney Injury in a Case Series of Patients with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure: A Case Series.
abstract: Patients with acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) frequently develop worsening in renal function until Acute Kidney Injury (AKI). The use of kidney injury biomarkers could be useful in the early diagnosis of AKI. In the present study, the role of the neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), compared to the standard creatinine, in ADHF patients, was analyzed to evaluate if an early treatment could affect the outcome. A case series of 24 ADHF patients was enrolled and patients randomly divided in two groups (Group A and Group B). In Group A, NGAL, creatinine, and eGFR were measured, while in Group B, creatinine and eGFR alone were measured. NGAL was measured by turbidimetric immunoassay and creatinine using an enzymatic spectrophotometric method. In presence of AKI, creatinine increase and eGFR decrease were significantly lower in Group A than in Group B, whereas in absence of AKI the difference between the two groups was not significant. Hospitalization stay was significantly lower in Group A (receiving early treatment based on NGAL) than in Group B. In ADHF patients, plasma NGAL in combination with creatinine was superior to the standard creatinine in the diagnosis and early treatment of AKI with a better outcome and a decreased hospital stay.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy; Centro Integrato di Ricerche (CIR), Laboratory of Clinical Pathology and Microbiology, University "Campus Bio-Medico", Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7393-8732
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Angeletti
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fogolari
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morolla
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capone
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sebastiano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costantino
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spoto
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Cesaris
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lo Presti
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy; Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immunomediated Diseases, National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciccozzi
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory, University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico, Via Alvaro del Portillo 200, 00128 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Giordano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dicuonzo