Neutrophil Gelatinase-associated Lipocalin and Interleukin-8 as a Predictor of Graft Dysfunction in Live-donor Renal Transplant Recipients
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Introduction: Early identification of renal graft dysfunction is vital for optimizing posttransplant outcomes, as traditional markers like serum creatinine increase only after significant renal injury. This study investigated the potential of serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL) and interleukin-8 (sIL-8) as early indicators of graft dysfunction in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). Material and Methods: An observational study was conducted on 28 KTRs, including 14 with normal graft function and 14 with early graft dysfunction. Serum samples were collected pretransplant and at 10 and 20 h posttransplantation. Levels of sNGAL and sIL-8 were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine diagnostic accuracy, and statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS v30.0.0. Results: At 10 h posttransplant, sNGAL levels were significantly higher in dysfunctional KTRs (161.92 vs. 93.99 ng/ml; P = 0.02) with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.7455. In nondysfunctional KTRs, sNGAL levels declined significantly after transplantation, whereas in dysfunctional KTRs, the decline was slower and less pronounced. Serum IL-8 levels showed a marked rise in dysfunctional KTRs at 10 h (494 vs. 254 pg/ml; P = 0.004), demonstrating superior diagnostic performance (AUC = 0.8214). Serum creatinine showed significant differentiation only at 20 h posttransplant (AUC = 0.7266), suggesting that both sNGAL and sIL-8 identify graft dysfunction earlier than creatinine. Conclusion: Both sNGAL and IL-8 serve as early indicators of renal graft injury, preceding changes in serum creatinine. Future multicentric studies incorporating urinary biomarkers and artificial intelligence-based analysis could further enhance predictive accuracy and clinical applicability.
Language: English
Subfield: Transplantation
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W7214800091