Triple Biomarkers in the Early Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Injury: a Comprehensive Review

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) affects over 13.3 million individuals globally each year, with significant morbidity and mortality due to delayed diagnosis and intervention. Current diagnostic methods, such as serum creatinine and urine output, serve as late indicators of kidney damage, underscoring the urgent need for novel, sensitive biomarkers. This review examines emerging biomarkers for early AKI detection, including Cystatin C, Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (NGAL), and Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1). Cystatin C provides a reliable alternative to creatinine, with minimal susceptibility to non-renal factors. NGAL, rapidly released after kidney injury, demonstrates high sensitivity for early AKI detection. KIM-1, significantly overexpressed in response to ischemic and toxic kidney damage, offers insights into injury severity and prognosis. Integrating these biomarkers into diagnostic panels holds promise for enhancing sensitivity and specificity across diverse clinical settings. This review highlights the clinical potential of these biomarkers to revolutionize AKI diagnosis, enabling timely therapeutic interventions and improving patient outcomes. Future research should prioritize biomarker combinations and their incorporation into clinical workflows through advanced high-throughput technologies.