The role of the NGAL biomarker in the assessment of early and prediction of late graft function in kidney transplantation from a living related donor

Abstract

The aim. To study the role of NGAL in assessing the recovery of early graft function (GF) and in predicting GF in the first year after kidney transplantation (KT) from a living-related donor (LRD). Materials and methods. For this aim, a total of 60 kidney recipients who underwent KT from LRDs were examined. To study the early GF, NGAL concentrations in urine samples were measured on days 1, 2, 3, 7 after KT. To study the late GF, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated at 3, 6, 12 months after KT. To study the prognosis of GF during the first year after KT, the relationship between u-NGAL and GFR levels at 3, 6, 12 months after KT was analyzed. The incidence of acute kidney transplant rejection (AKTR), delay of graft function (DGF), primary non-function was recorded. Results. DGF was observed in 5 (8.33 %) recipients with statistically significantly increased mean NGAL levels (P < 0.05) on days 1, 2, 3, 7 as compared to those in normal GF. AKTR was detected in 10 (16.67 %) recipients with statistically significantly increased mean NGAL levels (P < 0.05) on days 1, 2, 3, 7 compared to those in normal GF. Primary allograft non-function was diagnosed in 8 (13.33 %) recipients with statistically significantly increased mean NGAL levels (P < 0.05) on days 1, 2, 3, 7 compared to those in normal GF. Assessing the relationship between NGAL levels on days 1, 2, 3, 7 and GFR at 3, 6, 12 months after transplantation, it was found that GFR was higher in recipients with NGAL levels on days 1, 2, 3, 7 after transplantation within the reference values (<131.7 ng/ml) than that in recipients with NGAL levels on days 1, 2, 3, 7 after transplantation above 131.7 ng/ml. Conclusions. Evaluation of NGAL after KT informs about the restoration of renal function (rapid decrease in NGAL) or the development of complications (DGF, primary allograft non-function, AKTR) with slow decrease or increase in NGAL levels. Thus, u-NGAL is an early, non-invasive and accurate predictor of the need for dialysis in the first week after KT and the restoration of GF within 12 months.