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Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin in predicting postoperative acute kidney injury in elderly

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Abstract

Background

Elderly patients are at increased risk of developing acute kidney injury (AKI) following major surgery and rapid diagnosis is essential.

Aim

This study aimed to examine the potential utility of plasma neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin levels in early prediction of AKI in geriatric patients undergoing laparotomic oncological surgery.

Methods

This prospective single-center cohort study included 60 geriatric patients (≥ 65 years of age) that underwent major oncologic surgery with laparotomy. Perioperative measurements of plasma creatinine, blood urinary nitrogen, plasma lactate, urine output, and neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) were made. Patients were followed for AKI development, which is the primary outcome measure, and predictive role of NGAL was investigated.

Results

At 48 h follow-up, AKI developed in 13 patients (21.7%). Significant differences in creatinine (p < 0.001), NGAL (p < 0.001), and urine output levels (p = 0.001) were evident over time between the two groups. High NGAL measurements at 6 and 24 h after surgery seem to be highly predictive of AKI development. At 6 h, a plasma NGAL level greater than 71.8 ng/mL has a sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 81% in predicting subsequent AKI development.

Conclusions

Plasma NGAL levels seem to represent an early and reliable marker for AKI in elderly patients undergoing laparotomic surgery with the potential to allow early diagnosis and prevent further renal deterioration. Further confirmatory studies are warranted.

Trial registration

The study was registered to ClinicalTrials.gov (number, NCT05030727).

Implication statement

Elderly patients are at increased risk of postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI). This study shows that plasma neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin is a helpful marker to predict AKI in elderly patients undergoing laparotomic major surgery, which will allow early diagnosis and prevent further renal deterioration in this vulnerable patient group.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Pendik Research and Training Hospital, Marmara University Medical Faculty, Fevzi Cakmak Mah, Muhsin Yazicioglu Cad. No: 10, 34899, Ustkaynarca, Pendik, Istanbul, Turkey

    Meliha Orhon Ergun, Seniyye Ulgen Zengin, Aynur Mustafayeva & Tumay Umuroglu

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  1. Meliha Orhon Ergun
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  2. Seniyye Ulgen Zengin
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  3. Aynur Mustafayeva
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Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Statistical analysis was designed and performed by Meliha Orhon Ergun. Material preparation and data collection were performed by all authors. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Meliha Orhon Ergun, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Orhon Ergun, M., Zengin, S.U., Mustafayeva, A. et al. Neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin in predicting postoperative acute kidney injury in elderly. Ir J Med Sci 191, 1297–1303 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02865-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-021-02865-z

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