• Raúl Carrillo-Esper, Fátima Martha Castillo-Albarrán, and José Pérez-Jáuregui.
• Servicio de Terapia Intensiva, Fundación Clínica Médica Sur, México, DF, Mexico.
• Cir Cir. 2011 Nov 1;79(6):577-81.

AbstractAcute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in critically ill patients and is associated with high morbidity and mortality; therefore, its prophylaxis, diagnosis and intervention positively impact patient evolution. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) or lipocalin, a protein synthesized by renal tubular cells, has the property to transport lipophilic molecules such as vitamins, hormones and antigenic agents. It is a novel biomarker of AKI of several etiologies and is increased in both serum and urine 48 h before the increase of creatinine. It has a strong correlation with early diagnosis of AKI. NGAL is of the most investigated and promising biomarkers for early diagnosis of AKI in different clinical scenarios, most notably in sepsis, cardiorenal syndrome, cardiac surgery, kidney transplant, contrast nephropathy and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Lipocalin guides the early institution of therapeutic interventions to improve prognosis in AKI of several etiologies.

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