Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and cardiovascular events in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

Inflammation is an important mediator in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a small glycoprotein secreted by neutrophils. NGAL regulates the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9, which plays a role in plaque instability. It has therefore been hypothesised that NGAL may modulate inflammation and promote the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Our aim was to assess the predictive value of plasma NGAL in a prospective cohort study of 876 high-risk patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). NGAL levels were measured using the NGAL Test from BioPorto Diagnostics. Clinical follow-up was performed after a median of 3.1 years. The endpoint was a combination of non-fatal acute myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular death (CVD), or ischaemic stroke. The NGAL concentration was (median [25;75%]: 64.3 µg/L [51.3;81.4]). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was 0.56 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.49;0.64) for the diagnosis of the composite endpoint and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.56;0.75) after adding NGAL to high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), leucocyte count, interleukin-6 (IL-6), calprotectin, age, sex, body mass index (BMI), diabetes mellitus, smoking and creatinine. However, the AUC for hs-CRP, leucocyte count, IL-6, calprotectin, age, sex, BMI, diabetes mellitus, smoking and creatinine without NGAL was similar at 0.66 (95% CI: 0.56;0.76). NGAL alone had no predictive value with respect to the composite endpoint of non-fatal AMI, ischaemic stroke, or CVD in stable CAD patients. NGAL did not add any predictive value to the endpoint compared with existing inflammatory biomarkers and cardiovascular risk factors.