title: Plasma Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin as a Marker for Prediction of 3-Month Graft Survival after Kidney Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ischemic injury during organ transplantation increases the risk of acute and chronic rejections by promoting alloimmune responses. Measurement of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) immediately after kidney transplantation may be promising for early detection of ischemic injuries to allograft.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study assessed possible predictive values of plasma NGAL levels during first hours after kidney transplantation for graft loss within the first 3 months after transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  45 kidney transplant recipients were classified into those without graft loss or with graft loss during 3 months after transplantation. Plasma NGAL levels were measured before and at 2, 6, 12, 24 and 96 hours after transplantation. Serum creatinine concentration was assessed daily during hospitalization and at 1, 2, and 3 months post-transplantation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum creatinine and plasma NGAL levels were consistently higher in patients with graft loss compared with those without graft loss. At 2, 24, and 96 hours after transplantation, plasma NGAL concentration was significantly higher in patients who developed allograft loss within 3 months post-transplantation. The cutoff point of plasma NGAL at 2, 24, and 96 hours after transplantation for prediction of graft loss was 304.5 ng/mL (sensitivity of 71.4%, and specificity of 73.7%), 207.8 ng/mL(sensitivity of 85.7%, and specificity of 60.5%), and 184 ng/mL (sensitivity of 85.7%, and specificity of 71.1%), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma NGAL levels at 2, 24, and 96 hours after transplantation can predict 3-month graft loss with fair sensitivity and specificity.
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Professor of Nephrology, Nephrology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Khatami
authors.affiliation: Professor of Clinical Pharmacy, Nephrology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dashti-Khavidaki
authors.affiliation: Professor of Nephrology, Nephrology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lessan-Pezeshki
authors.affiliation: Associate Professor of Pathology, Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdollahi
keywords: Graft loss; Kidney transplantation; Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin