Neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin: An early biomarker for predicting acute kidney injury and severity in patients with acute pancreatitis

Background and Aim Acute kidney injury (AKI) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) has a high mortality rate. Traditionally used serum creatinine is an insensitive biomarker for the early detection of AKI. We aimed to study the role of plasma and urinary neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin (NGAL) in predicting AKI and a severe course in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP). Methods Consecutive patients of AP who presented within 72 h of symptom onset and age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls were included. Urinary and serum NGAL levels [enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)] were evaluated within 24 h of and 72 h after admission and once in controls. Urine and serum NGAL levels were correlated with development of AKI, severity, and outcomes of AP. Results Fifty patients with AP and 30 controls were enrolled. The mean serum and urine NGAL levels in patients on day 1 were significantly higher than the serum and urine NGAL levels in controls (P