NGAL as a marker to detect donor risk factors for delayed graft function

Abstract

Introduction: For deceased donor renal transplantation, it is important to have early markers that can predict the functional outcome of the transplant. Currently, creatinine is the marker of choice for determining whether a potential donor’s kidneys are suitable for transplantation. Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) is a biomarker that has been utilized to diagnose early-stage acute kidney injury, but its behavior in deceased donors is uncertain. The objective of this study was to determine whether donor uNGAL levels can predict delayed graft function in recipients. Methodology: A prospective cohort utilizing descriptive statistics and non-parametric median tests was carried out to evaluate donor uNGAL levels at the time of kidney removal. The behavior of this biomarker was analyzed in kidney transplant donors to evaluate its use as a predictive factor for DGF. Results: A total of 27 standard criteria transplants were evaluated, including 7 (25.9%) women and 20 (74.1%) men with a median age of 27 years (18.75-43.25). The principal cause of death was traumatic head injury, followed by stroke. The median creatinine level was 0.8 mg/dl (0.57-1), and the median uNGAL level was 11.1 ng/ml (4.2-33.6). In total, 46 transplants were performed, of which 15.22% (7 patients) presented with delayed graft function and 2 patients needed renal replacement therapy within the first week after transplantation. The patients were grouped according to the presence of DGF, with median uNGAL values of 11.1 ng/ml (3-17.3) in patients without DGF and median values of 11.2 ng/ml (7.7-39.4) (p=0.4) in those with delayed graft function. No factors were found to be associated with the development of delayed graft function in the multivariate analysis. Discussion: in this study, uNGAL measurements in deceased standard criteria donors did not predict delayed graft function.