Association of interleukin-6 with acute lung injury risk and disease severity in sepsis

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by a dysregulated response of the body in response to an infection that harms its tissues and organs.Interleukin-6(IL-6)is a significant component of the inflammatory response as part of the pa-thogenesis of sepsis.It aids in the development of Acute lung injury and,subse-quently,multiple organ dysfunction syndrome.This letter probes into the corre-lation between plasma IL-6 levels and the risk of developing acute lung injury and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in critically ill patients with sepsis.While it shows promising results,limitations like its observational study design,a limited sample size,a single center involvement,single-time-point measurement,and a lack of a control group restrain its cogency.The study is a big step in identifying IL-6 as a biomarker to improve patient care.

Rhabdomyolysis-related acute kidney injury in COVID-19:A critical concern

Rhabdomyolysis is a severe condition characterized by the breakdown of muscle tissue leading to the release of intracellular components into the bloodstream.This condition,when associated with acute kidney injury(AKI),can result in significant morbidity and mortality,particularly in the context of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).This editorial discusses a retrospective study on patients with COVID-19 who developed rhabdomyolysis-related AKI.The study highlights that patients with rhabdomyolysis exhibited higher inflammatory markers,such as Creactive protein,ferritin,and procalcitonin,and experienced worse clinical outcomes compared to those with other causes of AKI.The findings underscore the importance of early recognition and management of rhabdomyolysis in COVID-19 patients to improve prognosis and reduce mortality rates.

Data driven analysis reveals prognostic genes and immunological targets in human sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND:The molecular mechanism of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury(SA-AKI)is unclear.We analyzed co-differentially expressed genes(co-DEGs)to elucidate the underlying mechanism and intervention targets of SA-AKI.METHODS:The microarray datasets GSE65682,GSE30718,and GSE174220 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database.We identified the co-DEGs and constructed a gene co-expression network to screen the hub genes.We analyzed immune correlations and disease correlations and performed functional annotation of the hub genes.We also performed single-cell and microenvironment analyses and investigated the enrichment pathways and the main transcription factors.Finally,we conducted a correlation analysis to evaluate the role of the hub genes.RESULTS:Interleukin 32(IL32)was identified as the hub gene in SA-AKI,and the main enriched signaling pathways were associated with hemopoiesis,cellular response to cytokine stimulus,inflammatory response,and regulation of kidney development.Additionally,IL32 was significantly associated with mortality in SA-AKI patients.Monocytes,macrophages,T cells,and NK cells were closely related to IL32 and were involved in the immune microenvironment in SA-AKI patients.IL32 expression increased significantly in the kidney of septic mouse.Toll-like receptor 2(TLR2)was significantly and negatively correlated with IL32.CONCLUSION:IL32 is the key gene involved in SA-AKI and is significantly associated with prognosis.TLR2 and relevant immune cells are closely related to key genes.

Milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8 alleviates liver injury in severe acute pancreatitis by restoring autophagy flux and inhibiting ferroptosis in hepatocytes

BACKGROUND Liver injury is common in severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).Excessive autophagy often leads to an imbalance of homeostasis in hepatocytes,which induces lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial iron deposition and ultimately leads to ferroptosis.Our previous study found that milk fat globule epidermal growth factor 8(MFG-E8)alleviates acinar cell damage during SAP via binding toαvβ3/5 integrins.MFG-E8 also seems to mitigate pancreatic fibrosis via inhibiting chaperone-mediated autophagy.AIM To speculate whether MFG-E8 could also alleviate SAP induced liver injury by restoring the abnormal autophagy flux.METHODS SAP was induced in mice by 2 hly intraperitoneal injections of 4.0 g/kg L-arginine or 7 hly injections of 50μg/kg cerulein plus lipopolysaccharide.mfge8-knockout mice were used to study the effect of MFG-E8 deficiency on SAPinduced liver injury.Cilengitide,a specificαvβ3/5 integrin inhibitor,was used to investigate the possible mechanism of MFG-E8.RESULTS The results showed that MFG-E8 deficiency aggravated SAP-induced liver injury in mice,enhanced autophagy flux in hepatocyte,and worsened the degree of ferroptosis.Exogenous MFG-E8 reduced SAP-induced liver injury in a dose-dependent manner.Mechanistically,MFG-E8 mitigated excessive autophagy and inhibited ferroptosis in liver cells.Cilengitide abolished MFG-E8’s beneficial effects in SAP-induced liver injury.CONCLUSION MFG-E8 acts as an endogenous protective mediator in SAP-induced liver injury.MFG-E8 alleviates the excessive autophagy and inhibits ferroptosis in hepatocytes by binding to integrinαVβ3/5.

Sequential experimental observation on the curative effect of Yingbupu decoction of Zhuang medicine on stage I and II acute kidney injury

Objective:To observe the clinical efficacy of the Zhuang medicine Yingbupu decoction on stage I and II acute kidney injury through sequential test.Methods:The open one-way qualitative response sequential design of experiments was adopted,and the patients with AKI in phase I and II who met the inclusion criteria were divided into the treatment group and the control group according to the order of hospitalization by random number table.On the basis of basic treatment,the treatment group was treated with Zhuang medicine Yingbupu decoction,and the control group was treated with Jinshuibao tablet.The clinical efficacy,TCM syndrome score,24 h urine volume,serum creatinine(Scr),microalbumin in urine(mAlb),neutrophil Gelatinase related lipid delivery albumin(NGAL)of the two groups were compared,and the adverse reactions and complications of the two groups were observed.Results:After 14 d of treatment,when the treatment group reached the 10th case,the experimental line contacted the upper bound U-line and reached the experimental standard to terminate the experiment.The effective hypothesis was accepted,and it was believed that the Zhuang medicine Yingbupu decoction had a therapeutic effect on stage I and II AKI.The conclusion was drawn that the treatment group received the Zhuang medicine Yingbupu.The clinical effective rate and improvement days were similar between the two groups,and there was no significant difference(P>0.05).However,the integral value of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome in the treatment group was lower than that in the control group(P<0.05),After treatment,the Scr,mAlb,and NGAL levels of patients in both groups were lower than before treatment(P<0.05).After treatment,the Scr,mAlb,and NGAL values in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).After treatment,the 24-hour urine volume in both groups was higher than that before treatment,and the values in the treatment group were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).During the treatment period,there were no significant adverse reactions or complications in either group.Conclusion:The Zhuang medicine Yingbupu decoction is effective in treating stage I and II AKI,and the Zhuang medicine Yingbupu can significantly improve the symptoms and quality of life of patients with stage I and II AKI.Its improvement of renal function is better than that of Jinshuibao tablets,and its safety is good.

Pneumocystis pneumonia in stage IIIA lung adenocarcinoma with immune-related acute kidney injury and thoracic radiotherapy:A case report

BACKGROUND Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)are therapeutic agents for advanced and metastatic non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC)with high clinical antitumor efficacy.However,immune-related adverse events occur in 20%of these patients and often requiring treatment with immunosuppressive agents,such as corticosteroids.Consequently,this may increase the risk of patients to opportunistic infections.Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia(PJP),a rare but serious opportunistic infection typically observed in patients with human immunodeficiency virus,can also occur in cancer patients undergoing long-term glucocorticoid treatment.CASE SUMMARY We report a case of a 56-year-old male with squamous NSCLC treated with triplimab combined with paclitaxel,carboplatin,and radical thoracic radiation therapy.Following this regimen,he developed acute kidney injury(AKI)with elevated creatinine levels.After concurrent radical chemoradiotherapy ended,he developed a grade 3 immune-related AKI.High-dose corticosteroids were administered to treat AKI,and renal function gradually recovered.Corticosteroids were reduced to a dose of 10 mg prednisone equivalent daily eight weeks later;however,he developed severe pneumonia with spontaneous pneumothorax.Next-generation sequencing of the bronchoscopic lavage revealed PJP co-infection with herpes simplex virus 1 and cytomegalovirus.The inflammation was more severe in areas exposed to radiation.Piperacillin-tazobactam,acyclovir,sulfamethoxazole,and trimethoprim were used to control the infection.The patient recovered,and immunotherapy was terminated.CONCLUSION PJP is rare but can occur in patients with ICI adverse events and should be differentiated from tumor progression or immune-related adverse events.Thoracic radiation may increase risk,necessitating careful monitoring and prevention.

Risk Factors for Acute Kidney Injury in Patients Receiving Antibiotic Therapy:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

[Objectives]To systematically analyze the risk factors for acute kidney injury(AKI)in patients treated with antibiotics and to conduct a meta-analysis of published clinical studies.[Methods]PubMed,Web of Science,and Embase were searched for relevant cohort and case-control studies from January 1,2001,to October 31,2022.Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan5.4 and StataMP15.[Results]A total of 22 studies were included.Regarding patient factors,serum creatinine(SCr;MD=1.03,95%CI of-0.07 to-0.02)was associated with increased antibiotic-associated AKI.Regarding the comorbidities and clinical factors,diabetes(OR=1.34,95%CI of 1.06 to 1.69,tumor(OR=2.07,95%CI of 1.13 to 3.79),pneumonia(OR=1.83,95%CI of 1.24 to 2.71),mechanical ventilation(OR=3.44,95%CI of 1.93 to 6.12),and ICU admission(OR=2.83,95%CI of 2.13 to 3.75)increased the risk of AKI in patients receiving antibiotic therapy.Regarding drug factors,diuretics(OR=2.76,95%CI of 2.16 to 3.52)increased the risk of antibiotic-associated AKI.[Conclusions]This paper may assist clinicians in predicting the risk factors for AKI in patients receiving antibiotic therapy.

Acute Toxicity of Jinchuan Formula Plum Wine Extract and Its Protective Effect on Mice with Liver Injury

[Objectives]To investigate the acute toxicity and hepatoprotective effect of Jinchuan formula plum wine extract on mice,determine its safety range,and evaluate its hepatoprotective effect.[Methods]The median lethal dose(LD_(50))was determined by acute toxicity test with the toxic reaction and mortality of mice as indexes.Sixty Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups:normal control group,model group(ConA-induced liver injury model),Jinchuan formula plum wine high,medium and low dose groups(1.0,0.5,0.25 g/kg)and silybin group(0.1 g/kg).The levels of ALT,AST,LDH in serum and TG,VLDL in liver were measured.After HE staining,the pathological changes of liver tissue in mice were observed,and the liver protective effect of Jinchuan formula plum wine extract was analyzed and evaluated.[Results]LD_(50)was 11.18 g/kg,and the 95%confidence limit of LD_(50)was 10.31-12.05 g/kg.The high-dose group of Jinchuan formula plum wine extract could significantly reduce the serum ALT and AST activities of ConA-induced liver injury mice(P<0.05).[Conclusions]Jinchuan formula plum wine extract is relatively safe,and also has a protective effect on liver injury.

Understanding rhabdomyolysis induced acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19

This work comments on an article published in the recent issue of the World Journal of Virology.Rhabdomyolysis is a complex condition with symptoms such as myalgia,changes to urination,and weakness.With the potential for substantial kidney impairment,it has also been shown to be a severe complication of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19).To date,various theoretical explanations exist for the development of rhabdomyolysis induced acute kidney injury(RIAKI)in COVID-19 infection,including the accumulation of released striated muscle myoglobin in the urine(myoglobinuria).In their article,they(2024)demonstrate in a retrospective study that RIAKI in COVID-19 patients tended to have elevated levels of C-reactive protein,ferritin,and procalcitonin.These patients also had poorer overall prognoses when compared to COVID-19 patients who have acute kidney injury(AKI)due to other causes.It is clear from these findings that clinicians must closely monitor and assess for the presence of rhabdomyolysis in COVID-19 patients who have developed AKIs.Moreover,additional research is required to further understand the mechanisms behind the development of RIAKI in COVID-19 patients in order to better inform treatment guidelines and protocols.

Preoperative Serum Albumin Levels and Postoperative Acute Kidney Injury in Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: A Single-Center Study in Bangladesh

Background: Serum albumin, a vital plasma protein, helps maintain intravascular colloidal osmotic pressure, cardiac output, and renal function. Low preoperative serum albumin is linked to poor outcomes, including acute kidney injury (AKI), after off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery. This study aimed to assess the relationship between preoperative serum albumin levels and early postoperative renal injury. Methods: This prospective comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2019 to February 2021 at the National Heart Foundation Hospital & Research Institute, Bangladesh. It included 160 adult patients with normal preoperative renal function undergoing OPCAB. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (serum albumin ≥ 4.0 gm/dl) and Group B (serum albumin Results: Preoperative serum albumin was significantly different between groups (Group A: 4.21 ± 0.05 gm/dl, Group B: 3.69 ± 0.04 gm/dl, p = 0.028). Group B had a higher incidence of hypertension (71.25% vs. 51.25%, p st and 3rd postoperative days were higher in Group B (p th day. Postoperative AKI occurred in 18.75% of Group A and 36.25% of Group B. Multivariate regression indicated that low preoperative serum albumin is an independent risk factor for postoperative AKI (p = 0.012, OR = 1.815, CI: 0.675 - 1.162). Conclusion: Preoperative serum albumin level is a valuable predictor of postoperative renal function. Ensuring high normal serum albumin levels before surgery can help minimize the risk of postoperative AKI.

Sound waves and solutions:Point-of-care ultrasonography for acute kidney injury in cirrhosis

This article delves into the intricate challenges of acute kidney injury(AKI)in cirrhosis,a condition fraught with high morbidity and mortality.The complexities arise from distinguishing between various causes of AKI,particularly hemodynamic AKI,in cirrhotic patients,who experience hemodynamic changes due to portal hypertension.The term"hepatocardiorenal syndrome"is introduced to encapsulate the intricate interplay among the liver,heart,and kidneys.The narrative emphasizes the often-overlooked aspect of cardiac function in AKI assessments in cirrhosis,unveiling the prevalence of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy marked by impaired diastolic function.The conventional empiric approach involving volume expansion and vasopressors for hepatorenal syndrome is critically analyzed,highlighting potential risks and variable patient responses.We advocate for a nuanced algorithm for AKI evaluation in cirrhosis,prominently featuring point-of-care ultrasonography(POCUS).POCUS applications encompass assessing fluid tolerance,detecting venous congestion,and evaluating cardiac function.

Clinical Presentation and Treatment Outcomes of Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury among Pregnant Women Admitted at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital in Tanzania

Background: Globally, PRAKI is among the leading causes of death in pregnant women. The prevalence, causes and outcome of this condition vary among countries due to differences in environmental, socioeconomic, and health delivery systems. The common causes that have been reported in several studies are PIH, Haemorrhages and Sepsis while the outcomes may be either complete renal recovery, progression to CKD and hence dialysis dependency or death. This study aimed at determining clinical presentation and treatment outcomes of Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury in Pregnant women admitted at the Benjamin Mkapa Hospital, Dodoma, Tanzania. Results: Out of 4007 pregnant women who were admitted to the maternity ward 51 pregnant women were found to have PRAKI. Of those with PRAKI, 74.5% were between 21 to 25 years. The leading causes of PRAKI were PPH 12 (23.53%), Eclampsia 12 (23.53%), and pre-eclampsia 12 (23.5%). Hemodialysis therapy was provided to 22 (43.1%) patients, 15 (29.4%) individuals recovered spontaneously with medical management and 14 (27.5%) missed haemodialysis therapy due to various reasons. The mortality due to PRAKI was 17 (33.3%). Conclusion and Recommendation: Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and post-partum haemorrhage were found to be the main causes of PRAKI. The mortality related to PRAKI is high and Hemodialysis therapy is vital help to prevent deaths for pregnant women with PRAKI. Pregnant women who develop acute kidney injury should be followed closely and a nephrologist should be consulted early. Early referral should be done by the lower level facilities for all at-risk pregnant women to a specialized multidisciplinary health facility.

Obstructive uropathy: Overview of the pathogenesis, etiology and management of a prevalent cause of acute kidney injury

Obstructive uropathy is defined as the structural or functional interruption of urinary outflow at any level in the urinary tract.It is regarded as one of the most prevalent causes of acute kidney injury(AKI),accounting for 5%–10%of cases.Acute severe obstruction of the urinary tract is a potentially threatening situation for the kidneys and therefore requires prompt identification and management to relieve obstruction.The aim of the present article is to review and synthesize available evidence on obstructive uropathy,providing a clinical guideline for clinicians.A literature review on obstructive uropathy in the context of AKI was performed,focusing on the least clarified aspects regarding diagnosis and management.Recent literature searching was conducted in English and top-level evidence articles including systematic reviews,metanalyses and large series were prioritized.Acute obstruction of the urinary tract is a diagnostic and therapeutical challenge that may lead to important clinical complications together with direct structural and hemodynamic damage to the kidney.Early recognition of the leading cause and its exact location is essential to ensure prompt urinary drainage together with the most suitable drainage technique selection.A multidisciplinary approach,including urologists,nephrologists,and other medical specialties,is best suited to correctly manage concomitant hemodynamic changes,fluid and electrolyte imbalances,and other related issues.Obstructive uropathy is one of the leading causes of AKI.Recognition of patients suitable for early diversion and feasibility or adequate selection of the indicated technique is sometimes challeng-ing.A thorough understanding of the physiopathology behind the development of urinary obstruction is vital for correct diagnosis and management.

Exertional Rhabdomyolysis Induced Acute Kidney Injury: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: The exRML (exertional rhabdomyolysis) is a pathophysiologic condition of skeletal muscle cell damage and breakdown associated with high intensity or prolonged exercise, normal exercise under extreme circumstances, or sudden and excessive skeletal muscle contraction. It may manifest from the increase in CK (creatine kinase) or MYO (myoglobin), a protein that can cause life-threatening injury to the kidney (AKI, acute kidney injury), and may or may not be associated with myoglobinuria. Here, we presented a case of exRML with AKI, and then reviewed the related reports. Vigorous hydration, sodium bicarbonate and furosemide are key treatments. Aim: To examine an elderly patient with exRML induced AKI and the key treatment process. Case summary: A 61-year-old man left our hospital without permission after his admission and has been walking for almost 30 kms with no water and food intake, then was diagnosed exRML and exRML induced AKI with an obvious elevation of CK, MYO and decrease of eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate) after coming back, and was treated with vigorous hydration, loop diuresis, sodium bicarbonate, prostaglandin and Shenkang injection. After vigorous resuscitation, the patient’s renal function, CK and MYO returned normal. Conclusions: The exRML can cause serious complications such as AKI and death. Delayed diagnosis can be critical;therefore, manner of time should be taken to achieve a favorable prognosis.

A Case of Waldenström Macroglobulinemia with Acute Kidney Injury as the First Manifestation and Literature Review

Waldenström macroglobulinemia is a rare lymphoid tumor accounting for 2% of all hematological malignancies. Renal complications are less common compared to multiple myeloma, with the most frequent renal manifestations being microproteinuria and microhematuria. This paper presents a case of Waldenström macroglobulinemia with acute kidney injury as the initial manifestation. A 75-year-old male was admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University after elevated blood creatinine levels were detected for one day. Upon admission, his blood creatinine was 255 μmol/L, urine protein was 1+, urine erythrocytes were negative, electrophoresis showed IgM positivity in the κ-region, and a bone marrow biopsy indicated a tendency towards lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. The patient was discharged after receiving a treatment regimen of prednisone acetate, thalidomide, and cyclophosphamide, and continued oral medication outside the hospital. The patient returned two weeks later due to diarrhea and was found to have a blood creatinine level of 985 μmol/L, along with severe acidosis and hyperkalemia. The patient refused renal replacement therapy and was not followed up, resulting in a poor prognosis. Additionally, a review of the literature is provided to contextualize this case within the broader scope of existing research.

Timing of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Initiation in Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: A Comprehensive Review and Future Directions

This review examines the application of continuous renal replacement therapy(CRRT)in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury(S-AKI),with a particular focus on the timing of CRRT initiation.This review addresses the controversy surrounding initiation timing and proposes future research directions.Through a systematic review of recent literature on CRRT for S-AKI,working principles,therapeutic mechanisms,initiation timing of CRRT,and related meta-analyses were summarized.Current studies indicate that the optimal timing for CRRT initiation in S-AKI patients remains inconclusive,with ongoing debate regarding whether early initiation significantly improves patient survival and renal function.This lack of consensus reflects the heterogeneity of the S-AKI patient population and the limitations of existing research methodologies.Future studies should focus on advancing the application of precision medicine in S-AKI and developing individualized treatment strategies by integrating multidimensional information to optimize CRRT utilization and improve patient outcomes.

Acute kidney injury spectrum in patients with chronic liver disease:Where do we stand?

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of liver cirrhosis and is of the utmost clinical and prognostic relevance. Patients with cirrhosis, especially decompensated cirrhosis, are more prone to develop AKI than those without cirrhosis. The hepatorenal syndrome type of AKI (HRS–AKI), a spectrum of disorders in prerenal chronic liver disease, and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) are the two most common causes of AKI in patients with chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Differentiating these conditions is essential due to the differences in treatment. Prerenal AKI, a more benign disorder, responds well to plasma volume expansion, while ATN requires more specific renal support and is associated with substantial mortality. HRS–AKI is a facet of these two conditions, which are characterized by a dysregulation of the immune response. Recently, there has been progress in better defining this clinical entity, and studies have begun to address optimal care. The present review synopsizes the current diagnostic criteria, pathophysiology, and treatment modalities of HRS–AKI and as well as AKI in other chronic liver diseases (non-HRS–AKI) so that early recognition of HRS–AKI and the appropriate management can be established.

Acute kidney injury and post-reperfusion syndrome in liver transplantation

In the past decades liver transplantation(LT) has become the treatment of choice for patients with end stage liver disease(ESLD). The chronic shortage of cadaveric organs for transplantation led to the utilization of a greater number of marginal donors such as older donors or donors after circulatory death(DCD). The improved survival of transplanted patients has increased the frequency of long-term complications, in particular chronic kidney disease(CKD). Acute kidney injury(AKI) post-LT has been recently recognized as an important risk factor for the occurrence of denovo CKD in the long-term outcome. The onset of AKI post-LT is multifactorial, with pre-LT risk factors involved, including higher Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, more sever ESLD and pre-existing renal dysfunction, either with intra-operative conditions, in particular ischaemia reperfusion injury responsible for post-reperfusion syndrome(PRS) that can influence recipient's morbidity and mortality. Post-reperfusion syndrome-induced AKI is an important complication post-LT that characterizes kidney involvement caused by PRS with mechanisms not clearly understood and implication on graft and patient survival. Since preLT risk factors may influence intra-operative events responsible for PRS-induced AKI, we aim to consider all the relevant aspects involved in PRS-induced AKI in the setting of LT and to identify all studies that better clarified the specific mechanisms linking PRS and AKI. A Pub Med search was conducted using the terms liver transplantation AND acute kidney injury; liver transplantation AND post-reperfusion syndrome; acute kidney injury AND post-reperfusion syndrome; acute kidney injury AND DCD AND liver transplantation. Five hundred seventy four articles were retrieved on Pub Med search. Results were limited to title/abstract of English-language articles published between 2000 and 2015. Twenty-three studies were identified that specifically evaluated incidence, risk factors and outcome for patients developing PRS-induced AKI in liver transplantation. In order to identify intra-operative risk factors/mechanisms specifically involved in PRSinduced AKI, avoiding confounding factors, we have limited our study to "acute kidney injury AND DCD AND liver transplantation". Accordingly, three out of five studies were selected for our purpose.

Early acute kidney injury after liver transplantation: Predisposing factors and clinical implications

To investigate the additional clinical impact of hepatic ischaemia reperfusion injury (HIRI) on patients sustaining acute kidney injury (AKI) following liver transplantation. METHODSThis was a single-centre retrospective study of consecutive adult patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) between January 2013 and June 2014. Early AKI was identified by measuring serum creatinine at 24 h post OLT (> 1.5 × baseline) or by the use of continuous veno-venous haemofiltration (CVVHF) during the early post-operative period. Patients with and without AKI were compared to identify risk factors associated with this complication. Peak serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) within 24 h post-OLT was used as a surrogate marker for HIRI and severity was classified as minor (< 1000 IU/L), moderate (1000-5000 IU/L) or severe (> 5000 IU/L). The impact on time to extubation, intensive care length of stay, incidence of chronic renal failure and 90-d mortality were examined firstly for each of the two complications (AKI and HIRI) alone and then as a combined outcome. RESULTSOut of the 116 patients included in the study, 50% developed AKI, 24% required CVVHF and 70% sustained moderate or severe HIRI. Median peak AST levels were 1248 IU/L and 2059 IU/L in the No AKI and AKI groups respectively (P = 0.0003). Furthermore, peak serum AST was the only consistent predictor of AKI on multivariate analysis P = 0.02. AKI and HIRI were individually associated with a longer time to extubation, increased length of intensive care unit stay and reduced survival. However, the patients who sustained both AKI and moderate or severe HIRI had a longer median time to extubation (P < 0.001) and intensive care length of stay (P = 0.001) than those with either complication alone. Ninety-day survival in the group sustaining both AKI and moderate or severe HIRI was 89%, compared to 100% in the groups with either or neither complication (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONHIRI has an important role in the development of AKI post-OLT and has a negative impact on patient outcomes, especially when occurring alongside AKI.

Pre-and intraoperative predictors of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation

BACKGROUND Acute kidney injury(AKI)after liver transplantation(LT)is a frequent and multifactorial event related to increased morbidity and mortality.Risk factors for AKI after LT still need to be clarified.AIM To identify the predictors of acute kidney injury after liver transplantation.METHODS The frequency and pre-and intraoperative predictors of AKI within the first 7 d after LT were evaluated in adult liver transplant candidates in a single LT center in Croatia.AKI was defined according to the Kidney Disease:Improving Global Outcomes criteria.RESULTS Out of 205 patients(mean age 57±10 years;73.7%males,52.7%with alcoholrelated liver disease)93(45.36%)developed AKI,and the majority of them(58.06%)had stage 1.Only 5.38%of patients required renal replacement therapy after LT.The majority of patients(82.8%)developed AKI within the first two days after the procedure.Multivariate logistic regression identified pre-LT body mass index(OR=1.1,95%CI:1.05-1.24)and red blood cell transfusion(OR=1.66,95%CI:1.09-2.53)as independent predictors of early post-LT AKI occurrence.30-d survival after LT was significantly better for patients without AKI(P=0.01).CONCLUSION Early AKI after LT is a frequent event that negatively impacts short-term survival.The pathogenesis of AKI is multifactorial,but pre-LT BMI and intraoperative volume shifts are major contributors.