Study finds early marker for kidney failure:
This article was originally published in Clinica
Executive Summary
A US study has found a protein that might help diagnose kidney failure quickly and early in children who have undergone heart surgery. Testing for high levels of the marker neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in serum or urine could diagnose kidney failure in two hours, versus one to three days using the current serum creatinine test, according to findings published in The Lancet (April 2). "Effective therapeutic measures for kidney failure are available but are often administered late because early biomarkers for kidney failure are not available," said study leader, Professor Prasad Devarajan, of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital.