Early Diagnostic Markers for Contrast Nephropathy in Patients Undergoing Coronary Angiography

The present work aimed to prove the usage of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an early biomarker for kidney injury and to assess the relationship between NGAL and serum creatinine and cystatin C in patients with normal serum creatinine undergoing percutaneous coronary angiography. Thirty patients with normal serum creatinine undergoing coronary angiography were enrolled. Estimation of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipid profile, creatinine, NGAL, and cystatin C were done before coronary angiography for all patients. Serum creatinine, NGAL and cystatin C were evaluated again at 4 and 24 hours after coronary angiography. There was a significant increase in serum NGAL level 4 hours and 24 hours after coronary interventions compared to the baseline value before coronary angiography. Before coronary angiography, serum NGAL was positively correlated with serum creatinine, and cystatin C. Conclusion: Serum NGAL and cystatin C could be valuable in the detection of early renal impairment after coronary angiography.