Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as an early predicting biomarker of acute kidney injury and clinical outcomes after recovery of spontaneous circulation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients

AimsTo determine whether the level of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) can predict acute kidney injury (AKI) and clinical outcomes after recovery of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) in patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA).MethodsWe conducted a prospective observational study of consecutive admitted patients with ROSC after OHCA between January 2013 and March 2015. Plasma was collected within 4 h of ROSC to determine the level of NGAL. Outcome variables were AKI, 30-day survival, and good neurological outcome (GNO). We evaluated the association between NGAL and outcomes.ResultsFifty-four patients were included. AKI occurred in 26 (48.0%); 15 (27.7%) survived over 30 days and 8 had GNO (14.8%). NGAL was significantly lower in the group with non-AKI, 30-day survival, and GNO. To predict AKI, 30-day survival, and GNO, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for NGAL was 0.810, 0.728, and 0.875, respectively. In a logistic regression model, NGAL >189 ng ml−1 was strongly associated with AKI (odds ratio [OR] 7.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.89-26.01) in a multivariate model. A lower level of NGAL was strongly associated with 30-day survival (OR 6.12, 95% CI: 1.64-23.42 at NGAL <153.5 ng ml−1) and GNO (OR 19.83, 95% CI: 2.21-178.32 at NGAL <129.5 ng ml−1) in a univariate model, but was not significantly associated with outcomes in a multivariate model.ConclusionsPlasma NGAL is a strong predictor of AKI in patients exhibiting OHCA at ICU admission. Lower levels of NGAL are associated with greater chance of 30-day survival and GNO.