Table 3 Clinical studies of common acute kidney injury biomarkers in adult patients

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)

Prediction of AKI:

   Post-cardiopulmonary bypass surgery [32, 53–63]

   After contrast exposure [64, 65]

   In sepsis [66, 67]

   In trauma patients [68]

   In critically ill adult patients [13, 36]

   In delayed graft function after renal transplantation [24, 25, 69]

Prediction of:

   Progression of AKI [7, 20]

   Duration and severity of AKI and length of stay in ICU [54, 55]

   Adverse outcomes in patients with AKI [70]

   Need for RRT [11, 12, 31, 54, 56, 60–62]

   Mortality in patients on RRT [71]

   Need for RRT or death after cardiac surgery [63]

   Severity of AKI and need for RRT in patients in the emergency department [19, 31]

   Recovery of AKI after pneumonia [23]

   GFR in patients with chronic kidney disease [72]

Differentiation between transient and sustained AKI in adults on admission to ICU [5, 6], and between 'pre-renal' and intrinsic AKI [8, 9]

Cystatin C

Prediction of AKI:

   In critically ill adults [13, 73]

   Post-cardiac surgery [56, 74]

   In liver transplant recipients [75]

   Post-coronary angiography [65, 76]

   In critically ill patients with baseline estimated GFR <60 ml/minute [13]

Prediction of:

   Severity and duration of AKI and length of ICU stay post-cardiac surgery [55]

   RRT in critically ill patients [16, 21, 27], post-cardiac surgery [54, 56] and in patients with AKI seen by nephrology consult service [28, 77, 78]

Correlation with AKI post-cardiac surgery [74]

No improved prediction of AKI in adult renal transplant recipients [79] or ICU patients [80]

IL-18

Prediction of AKI:

   After renal transplantation [81, 82]

   Post-cardiac surgery [63, 82]

   In patients with acute lung injury [83]

   In critically ill patients [13]

Prediction of:

   14-day mortality in critically ill patients [17]

   Progression of AKI [7, 20]

   Need for RRT or death after cardiac surgery [63]

   Mortality in patients with acute lung injury [83]

Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1)

Prediction of AKI:

   Post-cardiac surgery [53, 84, 85]

   In critically ill patients [13, 86]

   In patients with AKI seen by nephrology consult service [29]

   In critically ill patients with baseline estimated GFR <60 ml/minute [13]

Prediction of adverse outcome in hospitalized patients with AKI [7, 29]

Liver-type fatty acid binding protein (L-FABP)

Prediction of:

   AKI in critically ill patients [17]

   Poor outcome in patients with AKI [87]

   AKI post coronary angiography [88]

N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)

Prediction of:

   AKI post cardiac surgery [56]

   Adverse events in patients with AKI [29]

Weak predictor of AKI in critically ill patients [17]

Urine α and α glutathione S-transferase (αGST and αGST)

Prediction of RRT in patients with non-oliguric acute tubular necrosis [78]

Inconsistent data regarding prediction of AKI post cardiac surgery [89]

Netrin

Prediction of AKI post-cardiac surgery [90]

Hepcidin

Correlation between lower urinary hepcidin levels and AKI post-cardiac surgery [91]

Urinary calprotectin

Dierentiation between pre-renal AKI and intrinsic AKI [10]