Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels predict the neurological outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims

Abstract

Abstract Background Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a well-known biomarker of acute kidney injury. Serum NGAL was recently proposed as a potential predictor of mortality in post cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) patients following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). However, the potential predictive value of NGAL for neurological outcomes is unknown. Therefore, we assessed the potential predictive value of NGAL for neurological outcomes after OHCA. We also compared its predictive value with that of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) as an established biomarker. Methods Blood samples were prospectively collected from 43 PCAS patients following OHCA. Serum NGAL was measured on days 1 and 2, and NSE was measured on day 2. These biomarkers were compared between patients with favourable (cerebral performance category [CPC] 1–2) and unfavourable (CPC 3–5) outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. Results Serum NGAL and NSE on day 2 (both P 20 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 38, 0.978 vs. 0.923) showed the potential of NGAL predictability. Conclusions Serum NGAL might predict the neurological outcomes of PCAS patients, and its predictive value was equivalent to that of NSE.

Keywords

• Neuron-specific enolase
• Cerebral performance category
• Post cardiac arrest syndrome