NGAL biomarker shows promise for AKI detection and peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis management

A narrative review examined the potential of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a biomarker in kidney disease management. The review did not report specific study populations, sample sizes, settings, or comparator groups. It synthesized existing literature on NGAL's application across several clinical scenarios.

The main findings indicate NGAL has shown significant promise for the early detection and diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). For peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis (PDRP), NGAL demonstrated promising utility both for identifying the condition and for monitoring treatment response. In contrast, the review noted the application of NGAL in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney transplant patients is relatively limited. No specific effect sizes, absolute numbers, or statistical measures were reported for these findings.

Safety and tolerability data were not reported. Key limitations include the narrative review methodology, which lacks the systematic rigor of a meta-analysis, and the absence of reported quantitative data, comparator analyses, or assessments of study quality. The practice relevance is not reported, and the evidence should be interpreted as preliminary. Further prospective studies with standardized protocols are needed to define NGAL's precise clinical role and diagnostic accuracy.