Abstract

Aim: Renal dysfunction is mostly associated with poor prognosis in the patients with acute heart failure. Elevated serum creatinine values in patients with heart failure also increase the risk of cardiovascular death. In these patients, renal dysfunction can be avoided by early detection of acute kidney injury. Neutrophil Gelatinase –Associated Lipocalin is an early marker for acute renal tubular damage and secreted by the nephrons when the tubulus epithelium is damaged. We assessed Neutrophil Gelatinase –Associated Lipocalin as an early marker of acute kidney damage in patients with congestive heart failure. Material and Method: Forty patients with acute heart failure admitted to Tepecik Education and Research Hospital Internal Medicine Clinic between 01.01.2009 and 01.12.2009 were included in the study. Seventeen patients were female (%42,5), and 23 were male (%57,5). The mean age of the patients was 67±10 years. Age, sex, comorbid diseases, medications, serum levels of urea and creatinine, urine levels of Neutrophil Gelatinase –Associated Lipocalin and left ventricular ejection fractions by transthoracic echocardiography were detected at admission. Serum levels of creatinine and urine levels of Neutrophil Gelatinase –Associated Lipocalin were detected after 72 hrs of treatment in the study population. In 19 patients, the serum creatinine increased to the levels of acute kidney injury. Glomerular filtration rate of the cases was calculated with Cockcroft – Gault Formula. Findings: The control Neutrophil Gelatinase –Associated Lipocalin levels were higher than the initial Neutrophil Gelatinase –Associated Lipocalin levels with a statistical significance. We belive that there’s a relationship between urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase –Associated Lipocalin levels and renal dysfunction in patients with heart failure. Conclusion: We assume that Neutrophil Gelatinase –Associated Lipocalin can be used as an acute kidney injury marker in the near future.