Plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels are associated with the presence and severity of coronary heart disease

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the levels of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and interleukin (IL)-1β across different clinical presentations of coronary artery disease and to evaluate the relationship between those biomarkers and the severity of coronary artery lesions in patients without kidney disease. METHODS: We examined 365 eligible patients who underwent coronary angiography. A total of 124 ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients, 117 stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients and 124 patients without atherosclerotic plaques were enrolled in the study. Plasma NGAL, MMP-9, hs-CRP, and IL-1β were measured in all patients using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. According to the SYNTAX score, the STEMI patients and SAP patients were divided into another set of 2 groups: a high score group (≥ 33, n = 29) and a low score group (<33, n = 212). The relationship between those biomarkers and the severity of coronary stenosis was examined by Spearman correlation analysis; the ability for NGAL to discriminate severe coronary stenosis was examined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve; the influencing factors for the SYNTAX score were determined by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Plasma NGAL, MMP-9, and hs-CRP levels in STEMI patients were higher than in the SAP patients and control subjects (P<0.05, respectively), and plasma NGAL and hs-CRP levels were significantly higher in the SAP patients than in control subjects (P<0.05, respectively), while plasma IL-1β was similar among the 3 groups (P>0.05, respectively). The SYNTAX score was positively related to NGAL (r = 0.363, P<0.001), MMP-9 (r = 0.377, P<0.001), and hs-CRP (r = 0.163, P<0.011); the SYNTAX score was not related to IL-1β (r = -0.043, P = 0.510). Plasma NGAL was positively related to MMP-9 (r = 0.601, P<0.001) and IL-1β (r = 0.159, P = 0.014). The area under the ROC curve for NGAL discriminating severe coronary stenosis was 0.838 (95% CI: 0.752–0.923, P<0.001), which was greater than that for MMP-9 [0.818, (95% CI: 0.724–0.912, P<0.001)], IL-1β [0.485, (95% CI: 0.369–0.601, P = 0.791)], and hs-CRP [0.607, (95% CI: 0.492–0.722, P = 0.061)]. Multivariate regression analysis showed that plasma NGAL levels were independently related to high SYNTAX scores [OR = 1.109, (95% CI: 1.104–1.114), P<0.001]. CONCLUSION: Plasma NGAL, MMP-9, and hs-CRP levels in STEMI patients were higher than those in the SAP patients and control subjects. NGAL had a better ability to discriminate severe coronary stenosis than MMP-9, IL-1β, and hs-CRP. NGAL may be a novel biomarker to aid in risk stratification in coronary heart disease patients.