Utility of NGAL to Diagnose AKI in Critically Ill Children

Acute Kidney Injury is common in critically ill children and is associated with high morbidity and mortality in pediatric intensive care unit. The serum creatinine is still a gold standard test for diagnosis of AKI, but it rises after 1 to 3 days of injury . However, Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalcin (NGAL) is an emerging biomarker in identifying AKI at an early stages, which may in future help us in promptly instituting reno-protective interventions like avoidance of nephrotoxic exposure and contrast agents, maintenance of euvolemia and perfusion pressure which will not only preventing kidney from further failing, decrease the use of very expensive and complicated renal supportive therapy like continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) as well as in decreasing morbidity and mortality related to AKI.