Novel biomarkers assessing renal function in heart failure: Relation to inflammatory status and cardiac remodelling

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) have a significant decline of renal function. We investigate the association between novel biomarkers of renal dysfunction and indices of inflammatory status and cardiac remodeling in patients with HF. Methods: We enrolled 79 consecutive patients with HF and 79 healthy subjects, adjusted for age and sex. Serum levels of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), cystatin-C, b-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured by ELISA. Creatinine clearance was estimated using Cockcroft-Gault formula (eCcl). Left ventricular ejection fraction was determined by echocardiography. Results: Patients with HF, compared to healthy subjects, had significantly higher NGAL (p=0.007) and cystatin-C levels (p=0.005). In HF patients, NGAL levels were positively correlated with Creatinine levels (r=0.40, p