Early test to detect kidney failure

Nephronologists at University of Cincinnati College of Medicine had been successful in developing an early test for detecting kidney failure.

Their research had led to finding of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an early biomarker to detect ischemic renal injury after the patient had a cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.

Of the 71 children surveyed who had undergone cardiopulmonary bypass, 20 children had developed acute renal injury. The amount of NGAL in the urine at 2 hours after the bypass surgery was the earliest predictor of acute renal failure.

Usually the predictor of acute renal failure in such cases is the diagnosis with serum creatinine, but it was only possible 1 to 3 days after the surgery. Concentrations of NGAL in urine and serum taken after two hours of the surgery represent early biomarkers for acute renal injury after cardiac surgery. This may be the earliest way to accurately diagnose acute renal failure after a surgical procedure.

The peers of the researchers feel that this is "a remarkable piece of translational research" that has great possibilities in future applications.

The research was published in the The Lancet.