Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Urine NGAL for AKI in Cirrhosis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and is associated with significant mortality.1-3 The most common causes of AKI in these patients are prerenal azotemia (PRA), acute tubular necrosis (ATN), and hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), and accurate determination of the etiology of AKI is paramount as treatments differ considerably.2-4 In patients with cirrhosis, PRA commonly results from excessive diuresis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and diarrhea and is reversible with volume expansion and discontinuation of diuretics.