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The primary objective of this study was to determine the performance of the renal angina index (RAI) in predicting subsequent severe acute kidney injury (AKI) on day 3 of admission and whether integrating urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) with RAI would lead to improved prediction of AKI. This was a prospective observational study conducted in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) of a tertiary care hospital involving 170 children meeting the inclusion criteria. The RAI was assessed within 24 h of admission to the PICU. Positivity for renal angina was considered RAI ≥8. Urine samples were collected for all enrolled patients within the first 24 h and on day 3 of the PICU stay. NGAL was assayed using human-specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The overall incidence of AKI was 18.2%. Out of 170 children, 31 (18.2%) were RAI-positive on day 0. A higher proportion of patients in the RAI-positive group developed AKI on day 3 compared with the RAI-negative group (83.9% vs. 3.6%, P <0.001). Those who were RAI-positive on day 0 had a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value of 83.8%, 96.4%, 83.8%, and 96.4%, respectively, for predicting severe AKI on day 3. Incorporating urinary NGAL improved the specificity and PPV to 97.8% and 85.7%, respectively. Assessing the RAI is simple and useful for predicting severe AKI in critically ill children. The addition of urinary NGAL to the RAI optimizes its use for identifying patients at risk of subsequent severe AKI., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that rises approximately 24-48 h before a diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). Kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) is one of the most promising early biomarkers. It participates in the process of both kidney injury and healing, although the precise mechanism of the restoration of tubular integrity after injury still remains unclear. The renal resistive index (RRI) is used for evaluating changes in intrarenal perfusion occurring in renal parenchyma diseases. The study included 80 critically ill patients with sepsis, divided into 40 patients who developed AKI and 40 patients without AKI. All patients were evaluated through their history, clinical examination, laboratory investigations of serum IL-18 and KIM-1, and the RRI. Serum IL 18, serum KIM-1, and the RRI were significantly higher in critically ill patients with sepsis and AKI. Receiver operating characteristic analysis for detecting AKI 1 day after admission showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for serum IL-18 was 86.1%, the AUC for serum KIM-1 was 86%, and the AUC for the RRI was 88%, demonstrating statistical significance for the diagnosis of AKI within the next 24 h. Serum IL-18, KIM-1, and the RRI represent early predictors of AKI in critically ill septic patients., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in premature newborns and is associated with high mortality. It is unclear which risk factors lead to AKI in these neonates. We aimed to determine the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of AKI in preterm neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). They were screened and staged for AKI as per the amended neonatal criteria of Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes and followed up until discharge or death. Serum creatinine levels and urine output were measured. The incidence of AKI was 18.5% (37/200 neonates). The majority developed non-oliguric AKI. The risk factors significantly associated with AKI in neonates were the presence of sepsis, birth asphyxia, shock, respiratory distress syndrome, and hypothermia. The majority of neonates with AKI had a birthweight <1500 g and a gestational age of <32 weeks and had a higher risk of mortality, in contrast to than those without AKI. Mortality and NICU stay were significantly higher among those with Stage 3 AKI compared with Stage 2 and Stage 1 AKI. To prevent AKI and reduce the burden of high mortality in premature neonates, it is essential to prevent sepsis, birth asphyxia, and respiratory distress syndrome, as well as to detect shock and patent ductus arteriosus as early as possible. There is a need for good antenatal care to reduce the burden of prematurity., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

Epidemiological data on the prevalence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in acute coronary syndrome are sparse, with most studies having been conducted retrospectively. This study prospectively analyzed the incidence of AKI in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and to identify the risk factors for AKI and their renal outcome at 3 and 6 months. This was a prospective and observational study, which enrolled 120 patients presenting with their first episode of AMI to our hospital and consented to the study. Renal function tests were performed at admission, at 48 h, and at follow-up at 3 and 6 months. The majority of the patients underwent a percutaneous coronary intervention (59.2%), 21.7% received thrombolytic therapy, and 19.2% were managed conservatively. At 48 h, 11 patients had AKI. At 3 months, 8 patients had died, and renal dysfunctions were seen in 9 out of 112 patients. At 6 months, 12 patients out of 112 had renal dysfunction. There was no difference in the incidence of AKI in patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate above and below 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Killip Class 4 and diabetes mellitus were associated with an increased incidence of renal dysfunction in AMI patients. The type of treatment and the use of a contrast agent in the coronary intervention did not affect the development of AKI. According to this study, if indicated, a percutaneous coronary intervention should not be denied to patients for fear of developing AKI. This needs to be examined in larger randomized trials., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

Naphthalene is a widely available moth repellant in the Asian subcontinent. Toxicity can occur either accidentally or intentionally as a suicide attempt. An overdose can lead to a variety of clinical symptoms, including intravascular hemolysis, and can sometimes lead to life-threatening clinical situations. A young male was admitted to our center with an alleged history of ingesting an unknown quantity of naphthalene balls (mothballs). He developed methemoglobinemia, intra-vascular hemolysis, anuria, and acute kidney injury (AKI), followed by cardiorespiratory arrest. He was treated successfully with intravenous methylene blue and dialysis. Naphthalene toxicity can lead to methemoglobinemia and intravascular hemolysis. This can result in AKI caused by pigment nephropathy., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

Body art by henna staining is a practice that is widely prevalent in the Middle East and Africa, and has been known to be in vogue for hundreds of years. The practice is also significant as a ceremonial custom for weddings and social gatherings. However, due to its natural components (Lawsone) and additives, including para-phenylene-diamine (PPD), henna has also been associated with a number of health hazards, including acute hemolysis and acute kidney injury (AKI). We report in this case, a female patient who presented with AKI and acute hemolytic anemia following excessive pre-wedding henna staining of her arms and legs., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

As Odisha is an endemic region for malaria with many acute kidney injury (AKI) cases, this study evaluated the clinical profile and treatment outcomes of patients with malaria complicated by AKI. This prospective observational study was conducted between December 2015 and September 2017. Detailed histories and clinical examinations were recorded. On admission, tests for routine hematology, plasma glucose, liver function, renal function, serum electrolytes, thick smears, thin smears, and malarial parasites were performed. Of the 958 AKI malarial patients admitted, 202 (82.6 % males) were included in the study, with a mean age of 38.37 years. In total, 86.14%, 3.46%, and 10.39% of patients had Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax, and mixed malaria, respectively. Headache and decreased urination (83.66% each) were the most common symptoms after fever (100%). Anuria and oliguria were reported in 5.95% and 67.82% of patients, respectively, whereas 26.23% reported a urine output of >400 mL/24 h. All patients had raised serum creatinine and urea levels, and >60% had anemia, proteinuria, and/or hyponatremia. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was observed in 62.87% of patients. Acute tubular necrosis was seen in 60% of renal biopsy specimens (n = 15). Of the 75.75% of patients requiring dialysis, 82.12% and 17.88% of patients required hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, respectively, during which 11 patients died. AKI, a serious complication of P. falciparum or P. vivax malaria, is a life-threatening condition. Fever, anemia, oligo/anuria, hepatic involvement, cerebral malaria, high serum creatinine and urea, and disseminated intravascular coagulation were the main predictors of mortality in our study., (Copyright © 2023 Copyright: © 2023 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

Limited data exist on acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients hospitalized with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), its risk factors, and the outcomes from lower and middle-income countries. We determined the epidemiology of AKI and its outcomes in a retrospective observational study at a tertiary care center in Karachi, Pakistan, from October to December 2020. Demographic data, presenting clinical symptoms, laboratory results, and patient outcomes were collected from the medical records. AKI was defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. Of 301 COVID-19 patients, AKI developed in 188 (62.5%). The peak stages of AKI were Stage 1 in 57%, Stage 2 in 14.9%, and Stage 3 in 27.7%. Of these, 15 (8%) required kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Patients admitted to the intensive care unit (63.8% vs. 34.5%), and those needing vasopressors (31.9% vs. 5.3%) or mechanical ventilation (25% vs. 2.7%) had a higher risk of AKI. Independent predictors of AKI were elevated blood urea nitrogen and creatinine (Cr) at presentation, mechanical ventilation, and the use of anticoagulants. AKI, the presence of proteinuria, elevated serum Cr at presentation, use of vasopressors, and a need for KRT were significantly associated with in-hospital death, and the likelihood of mortality increased with advanced stages of AKI. Compared with other countries, AKI occurred more frequently among hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in this Pakistani cohort and was associated with 7.7-fold higher odds of in-hospital death. Patients with severe AKI had a greater likelihood of mortality than those in earlier stages or without AKI., (Copyright © 2022 Copyright: © 2022 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

The preferential use of convective modes of hemodialysis (HD) for targeting hyper-cytokinemia state in sepsis-related acute kidney injury (AKI) has been questioned for its efficacy. Several studies have used predilution hemodiafiltration (HDF) in critically ill AKI patients with mixed results. In this study, we compared intermittent online postdilution HDF with the standard high-flux (HF) intermittent HD in non-critically ill patients with community-acquired (CA) AKI. In this pilot study, stable patients with CA AKI and systemic inflammatory response syndrome were included and given either postdilution online-HDF (OL-HDF) or standard HF HD outside intensive care units. The primary objectives were to assess the feasibility of conducting the study at a larger scale and to detect the differential impact of convective clearance on the rates of independence from dialysis at discharge or after 30 days. Plasma cytokine clearance was assessed as a secondary objective. Eighty consecutive AKI patients were randomized to receive dialysis in one of the treatment arms after fulfilling the eligibility criteria. The baseline parameters of clinical severity, etiology, and indications of dialysis, plus the baseline plasma cytokine profiles, were comparable. Moreover, 83% in the control arm and 71.1% in the intervention arm became independent from dialysis at discharge or at 30 days (P = 0.189). No survival advantage of postdilution OL-HDF was observed (P >0.05). Similar plasma cytokine clearance levels were noted in both arms. The current study confirms the feasibility; however, it does not support the preferential use of postdilution OL-HDF over HF-HD in non-critical patients., (Copyright © 2022 Copyright: © 2022 Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation.)

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a triad of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and acute kidney injury (AKI) and is the most common cause of AKI in children. We aimed to demonstrate the clinical patterns, laboratory findings, management, and outcomes of HUS in Egyptian children. This was a retrospective cohort study carried out in the Nephrology Unit of the Pediatric Department at Tanta University Hospitals. Hospital-based records of HUS cases between January 2009 and January 2019 were used to obtain the disease history, clinical manifestations, investigations, treatment, and outcomes. Sixty-eight children were included in the study: 63 (96.56%) with Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) HUS and five (7.53%) with atypical HUS. The boy-to-girl ratio was 1.19:1. The age at the onset of the disease ranged from 0.5 to 13 years, with a median of 2.25 years. The main presenting manifestations were pallor (80.88%), diarrhea (67.65%), oliguria (54.41%), and convulsions (19.21%). The survival rate was 85.29%, whereas the mortality rate was 14.71%. Thirty-seven patients (54.41%) recovered completely, 17 (25%) patients survived but with chronic kidney disease, and four patients (5.88%) progressed to end-stage renal disease and are currently maintained on dialysis. The risk factors for mortality were female gender, age <5 years, anuria, and an affected central nervous system (CNS). STEC-HUS had a higher incidence than atypical HUS with better outcomes. Early dialysis improved the outcome in terms of mortality in young patients, females, and those with an affected CNS.

The risk of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (HA-AKI) depends on a person's intrinsic susceptibility, the presence of risk factors, and on the type and extent of exposure to kidney insults. Older cohort studies have focused on male-only or mostly male populations, assuming a lower incidence of HA-AKI in women. Insufficient statistical power suggested that female sex was a shared susceptibility factor for HA-AKI. It was included as a risk factor in risk prediction models of HA-AKI. With the inclusion of women in clinical research studies, this presumption was challenged. Recent meta-analyses of sex-stratified studies showed that the risk for HA-AKI was significantly higher in men. These results suggested a protective role of female sex hormones. However, these studies were complicated by the inclusion of women across an age spectrum that includes the menopausal shift. Preliminary clinical and basic research data suggest that postmenopausal women lose their protection from HA-AKI. The number, size, and quality of reported clinical studies are low. There is an unmet need to characterize the susceptibility factor sex, to assess its clinical relevance and to evaluate renoprotection by sex hormone administration.

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Acute kidney injury (AKI) is considered to be one of the most well-established risk factors for mortality in neonates. The aim of this work was to study the incidence of AKI in neonates with NEC and to determine the associated conditions, risk factors, and outcomes. We carried out this prospective cross-sectional study on 104 neonates treated for NEC from September 2015 to September 2019. Diagnoses of AKI were made using the neonatal modified Kidney Disease: Improved Global Outcome criteria. AKI occurred in 63 neonates (61%), with 32 at Stage 1 (31%), 20 at Stage 2 (19%), and 11 at Stage 3 (11%), including three requiring dialysis. Vancomycin use and positive blood culture were risk factors for developing AKI in our NEC neonates (odds ratio: 2.47 and 2.41; P = 0.03 and 0.04, respectively). Neonates with AKI had a higher mortality rate (47.6% vs. 26.8 %, P = 0.03) and an increased length of stay (LOS) (69.8 days vs. 53.9 days, P <0.01) than the non-AKI group. Surgical intervention was required in 11 (10.5%) of our neonates. We concluded that AKI occurs in about 60% of neonates with NEC and is associated with higher mortality and LOS in the NICU. Therefore, it is very important to identify and manage all neonates who are at a high risk of developing AKI as quickly as possible.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and its severity is linked to the adverse outcomes of multiorgan involvement. We attempted to assess the clinical outcomes and determinants of mortality in patients admitted to our COVID-19 care center from May to November 2020 who developed AKI through a retrospective examination of their case records. The data of those who developed AKI were analyzed for their clinical parameters, clinical presentation, history, laboratory parameters, urine output measurements, requirements for dialysis, treatment, and treatment outcomes (discharge or death). These outcomes were correlated to the comorbidities, laboratory parameters, the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI stage, sequential organ failure assessment score, and need for dialysis or renal replacement therapy. Of 1890 patients admitted, 132 (6.98%) patients developed AKI. Of 450 deaths from all causes, 67 (14%) were in AKI patients. There were 100 (75.8%) males and 32 (24.8%) females. The mean age was 62.05 ± 11.48 years. The median duration of stay was 7 days (interquartile range: 4--11.75 days). The number of patients in AKI Stages 1, 2, and 3 was 1 (0.75%), 64 (48.48%), and 67 (50.75%), respectively. The most common symptoms were breathlessness (85.6%), fever (84.5%), myalgia (81.19%), and weakness (76.5%). Multivariate analysis showed that the determinants of mortality were a partial pressure of oxygen saturation (pO 2 ) of <75% and of 76%-85% compared with a pO 2 of >85%, not receiving remdesivir, and KDIGO Stage >2.

The aim of the study was to assess acute kidney injury (AKI) and its contributing risk factors among neonates to reduce morbidity and mortality. The study included 310 neonates who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Serum creatinine (SCr) was elevated at admission, after 48 h, and before discharge or death. AKI was defined by either an acute rise in SCr of at least 0.3 mg/dL within 48 h or an increasing or persistently high level of SCr >1.5 mg/dL after 48-72 h of life. The patients who developed AKI were studied regarding the most common risk factors and outcomes. The prevalence of AKI in these neonates was 11.9%. Nephrotoxic drugs were the highest risk factor among patients with AKI, but this was not statistically significant different from patients without AKI. Perinatal asphyxia (59.5%), respiratory distress syndrome (48.6%), shock (43.2%), prematurity (40.5%), and sepsis (37.8%) were the main risk factors of AKI following the nephrotoxic drugs (64.9%). The mortality rate for cases with AKI was 62.1%, with a statistically significant difference from non-AKI neonates. The death rate was higher among neonates born before 36 weeks' gestation. There was no statistical difference between oliguric and non-oliguric neonates with AKI regarding the outcome. The overall incidence of AKI in sick neonates admitted to the NICU was 11.9%. Nephrotoxic drugs, perinatal asphyxia, shock, and prematurity were the main risk factors for developing AKI.

Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is the most important and frequent cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). Controversy exists concerning the role of renal biopsy in the evaluation of ATN prognosis. We aim in our study to evaluate the role of renal biopsy for the detection of recovery and progression and rate of recovery of ATN. The study was designed to include all biopsies with the diagnosis in ATN in adults >21-year-old, from January 2016 to December 2018. Biopsies were recruited retrospectively and were reviewed by three pathologists and quantitated. Four histological ATN features were evaluated. Flattening cells, distension or dilatation, debris, and vacuolation and for each a score were attributed as follows: 0 = less than 5% of section, 1 = 6%-25%, 2 = 26%-50%, 3 = >50%. Thirty-five patients with 35 renal biopsies were analyzed. Flattening was seen <5% in nine patients, 6%-25% in 15 patients, 26%-50% in six patients. and >50% in five patients. Dilatation was seen <5% in 11 patient, 6%-25% in 10 patients, 26%-50% seen in six patients, and >50% in eight patients. The presence of debris was seen in <5% in 12 patients, 6%-25% in 12 patients, 26%-50% seen in six patients, and >50% seen in five patient. Vacuolation was seen in 5% in eight patients, 6%-25% in 14 patients, 26%-50% in seven patients, and >50% in six patients. It was found that flattening <5% and dilatation <5% and dilatation >50% in renal biopsy are the good indicators for recovery and good prognosis of cases of ATN, in addition debris <5% and >50% and vacuolation <5% are also good indicators for recovery and good prognosis of cases of ATN. On the other hand, flattening from 6% to 25% and from 26% to 50%, dilatation from 6% to 25%, debris from 26% to 50% and vacuolation >50% are also indicators for delayed recovery and poor prognosis of cases of ATN. Renal biopsy in AKI with the diagnosis of ATN with scoring system of flattening, dilatation, debris, and vacuolation can point to indication of recovery or progression of these cases.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with high mortality and morbidity risk. Factors predictive of mortality can guide in early identification of high-risk patients and escalation of therapy to improve outcomes. There is a paucity of data on AKI in Pakistan, and this study was done to determine in-hospital AKI mortality and the associated predictors of mortality. This was a prospective observational study conducted in the Acute Medical Unit and High Dependency Unit of Pak Emirates Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from June to December 2018. Based on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) AKI definition, 130 critically ill patients were included, while patients with chronic kidney disease were excluded. Data were collected on demographic profile-morbid conditions, etiology, laboratory values, and outcomes. The overall mortality was 45.4% (59/130) and varied with the stage of AKI, as it was 21.6%, 36.0%, and 61.8% in KDIGO stages 1, 2, and 3, respectively (P <0.05). There was a significant association (P <0.001) between sepsis, age >65 years, and mortality. Patients with inhospital mortality had higher median serum creatinine and mean potassium levels (P <0.01), with lower mean sodium levels and bicarbonate levels <10 mmol/L. However, on multivariate analysis using variables age >65 years, AKI stage 3, oliguria, bicarbonate <10 mmol/L, and sodium levels <130 mmol/L, only age [odds ratio (OR): 3.16, confidence interval (CI) 95%: 1.40-7.15), AKI stage 3 (OR: 3.12, CI 95%: 1.32-7.38], and low sodium levels <130 mmol/L (OR: 4.52, CI 95%: 1.40-14.61) were found to be independent predictors of mortality. Diabetes mellitus need for vasopressors, oliguria, hemodialysis requirement, and mean leukocyte counts had no significant association with mortality. AKI was associated with high in-hospital mortality in critically ill patients. Sepsis, hypertension, older age, Stage 3 AKI, higher mean creatinine, and potassium were predictive of increased mortality risk.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is very common in intensive care units (ICUs). Its complications are often fatal, life-threatening, and may lead to kidney impairment. This is a multicentric, prospective, and descriptive study, spread over a period of six months, from January 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017, including incident cases of AKI defined according to the AKI Network criteria seen in the ICUs of Ibn Rochd University Hospital of Casablanca. Their evolution was studied during the hospital stay at three, six, 12, and 24 months. A total of 102 patients were included, 52% of whom were female. The median age was 45.2 ±0 22.93 years (10 days-87 years). Clinically, 28.4% were oligo-anuric and 54.8% had a multivisceral failure, mainly neurological and respiratory. The median creatinine level was 37.6 mg/L ± 19.82 (8-230). AKI was mainly organic and functional in 43.1% and 40.2% of cases, respectively, and the main etiologies were dehydration, sepsis, and tumor obstruction. Dialysis was required in 25.5% of cases. When discharged from the hospital, mortality occurs in 35% of cases, total recovery of renal function was observed in 22%, progression to chronicity in 38%, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in 5% of cases. The progression to chronicity and ESRD increased in the 1 st and 2 nd year of followup after the first episode of AKI. The risk factors for progression to chronicity were as follows: age, hypertension, the presence of comorbidities, the presence of multivisceral failure and the severity of AKI. AKI is now considered a risk factor for chronic kidney disease and longterm mortality, hence the interest and importance of nephrological monitoring., Competing Interests: None

This paper describes the main characteristics of coronavirus diseases 2019 (COVID-19) patients suffering from acute kidney injury (AKI) assisted at a high complexity clinic in Barranquilla, Colombia. The patients included in this study (n = 48) were those with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, who had developed AKI during their hospital stay. Serum and urine parameters, as well as patient's viral load and clinical frailty scale (CFS) were recorded. A statistical analysis of the recorded parameters, such as comparisons, and correlations between variables of interest, were explored. The prevalence of COVID-19 induced AKI was 41%, being the majority of them classified as AKI network classification 3, with a renal replacement therapy requirement of 29%, and an associated mortality of 73%. AKI patients' mortality showed a significant positive correlation (33%) with patients' CFS score but not with their viral load. COVID-19 induced AKI significantly correlated with patients' frailty status but not to their viral load.

Platelet (PLT), one of blood cells, plays a major role in physiological and pathological processes such as coagulation, thrombosis, inflammation, and keeping the integrity of vascular endothelium. There are a group of parameters that are used to measure the total amount of PLTs, PLTs morphology, and proliferation. PLT indices are associated with the severity of illness and patients' prognosis. It was reported that mean platelet volume (MPV) was raising synchronously with interleukin (IL)-6 and C-reactive protein in sepsis, and was correlated to the severity of the disease. We aimed to study PLT indices and its changes in sepsis and septic acute kidney injury (AKI) patients to assess the disease and its severity. The present study is a cross-sectional study, had been carried out at Menoufia University hospitals from August 2017 to August 2019. The various platelet indices [MPV, platelet distribution width (PDW) and plateletcrit (PCT)] are considered as outcome variables were compared among controls, cases with sepsis, and cases with sepsis associated AKI. Group I (31) cases with the clinical diagnosis of septic AKI, Group II (33) cases with the diagnosis of sepsis, and Group III (28) consecutive persons marked as negative in the output of the cell counter were taken as controls. Data were tabulated and statistically analyzed. There were 15 men and 15 women for Group I (septic AKI), 17 males and 16 females for Group II (sepsis) and 15 men and 13 women healthy controls as a control group. According to PLT indices MPV, there was a significant statistical difference (P1 <0.01) between Group I and II of patients as it were12.06 ± 1.23, 11.01 ± 1.20, respectively, and PDW also there was a significant statistical difference (P1 <0.01) as it were16.01 ± 2.33, 13.97 ± 2.14, respectively, and PCT there was no significant difference between the two groups. Furthermore, there was a significant statistical difference between Group I and II of patients according to procalcitonin, TNF-α and IL-10. From these results, we conclude that there were a statistical significant difference between the patient groups of critically ill.

Our study aimed to manage the children presented with severe hypernatremic dehydration and acute kidney injury (AKI) an updated fluid management protocol was used to find out the rate of decline of serum sodium per day and their outcome. This is a prospective interventional study was conducted from November 2015 up to October 2016 in the Critical Care Nephrology and Dialysis Unit of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Bangladesh. A total of 45 children with hypernatremia and AKI were evaluated. Patients were treated by the calculated amount of dextrose in normal saline mixed with various dilutions of 3% NaCl with a difference of serum to infusate sodium concentration around 10 mEq/L as per the American Academy of Pediatrics - 2005. Intermittent peritoneal dialysis was done when in the failure stage of AKI or when serum sodium (Na + ) >180 mEq/L. Depending on the outcome samples were divided into survival and death groups. Data were processed by software STATA 13 and analysis was done by one-way ANOVA, Tukey test, Chi-square test, F-test, and Student's t-test. Age ranged from one month to 6½ years and 91% were infants. Total 64% of patients were in the failure stage of AKI and majority were in the death group, 31% in injury and 4.4% patient in the risk stage. Out of 45 cases, 30 (67%) had severe hypernatremia. Significant reduction of serum Na+ was found and the rate of decline between days was optimum (8.4 mmol/L/day). Overall 60% survived with normal renal functions and 40% died. The calculated amount of dextrose in normal saline mixed with various dilutions of 3% NaCl is safe in severe hypernatremic dehydration with AKI.

Coronaviruses are ubiquitous pathogens and have caused epidemics in the recent past. Coupled with globalization, they have the potential to transform into the pandemic, as is the case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Primarily to start as a respiratory illness, they are known to cause systemic disease and affect many organ systems. Due to the lack of, universally proven, specific anti-viral therapy, the mainstay of treatment is "supportive care" and some of the patients afflicted with it, require intensive care and organ support for lungs and/or kidneys. Patients with the diseases of the kidney, particularly those on dialysis and kidney transplant recipients, are predisposed to the worst outcomes with COVID-19. It also leads to acute kidney injury, which is an important and independent determinant of prognosis in these patients. It also creates a huge demand for the delivery of renal replacement therapy. COVID-19 is an emerging and evolving disease, and so, it is important to understand the mechanism and management of kidney diseases in COVID-19.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a medical complication that can arise from various causes. This study aimed to determine the incidence of AKI and the predictors for the development of AKI in the medical wards of a tertiary hospital. A prospective cohort study was conducted on patients admitted to the medical wards from November 1 to December 31, 2017. Relevant data were obtained from the electronic hospital information system and medication charts. AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) by ≥0.3 mg/dL (≥26.5 μmol/L) within 48 h, or increase in SCr to ≥1.5 times baseline, within the last seven days. Fisher's exact test or Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the association between characteristics of the patients and AKI. Logistic regression was used to determine possible predictors of AKI. A total of 260 patients [mean age 54.7 (19.0) years, 50.8% male] were included. Of these, 23% (n = 60) developed AKI. About 81% (n = 210) of the patients were exposed to nephrotoxic medications. Predictors of AKI were number of comorbidities [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 4.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.8-10.3; P = 0.001], diuretics (aOR: 2.8; 95% CI: 1.2-6.3; P = 0.015), proton pump inhibitors (aOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4-5.8; P = 0.004), and cephalosporin (aOR: 4.5; 95% CI: 2.2-9.1; P <0.001). Mortality rate during hospitalization was similar between AKI and non-AKI patients (12% vs. 3.5%; aOR: 1.9; 95% CI: 0.5-6.7; P = 0.324). The risk of AKI is high in patients with multiple comorbidities and exposure to nephrotoxic medications. Further studies are needed to establish the role of nephrotoxic medications in causing AKI and its clinical implications.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) in postpartum is a rare, but deadly complication of pregnancy. It has great impact on maternal and fetal outcomes. The study aimed to study the incidence and etiological profile with outcomes of postpartum AKI patients and to see whether need for hemodialysis (HD) alters the outcome. This is a retrospective observation study done in a tertiary care center at the Department of Nephrology, Ramkrishnan Care Hospital, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. All postpartum women suffering from AKI between May 2011 and May 2017 were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data of the patients were included. Outcome variables including maternal and fetal mortality with renal outcome during discharge and follow-up for three months were noted. Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 underwent HD and Group 2 was managed conservatively. Statistical analysis was done on the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software version 17.0. Categorical data were expressed as ratio and proportions, while continuous data were expressed as mean plus standard deviation (SD). Quantitative data were analyzed by percentage, mean, SD, and t-test. Qualitative data were analyzed by Chi-square test. The incidence of postpartum AKI was 3.26% and the mean age of the study population was 27.3 ± 4.77 years. Multifactorial (53.27%) etiology was the most cause of postpartum AKI, and the second was puerperal sepsis (32.7%). Seventy-three (68.22%) patients had undergone HD. Four (4.47%) patients require lifelong HD. Renal biopsy was done in seven patients, three had cortical necrosis among fetal outcomes, total live births were 92 (85.98%), and 15 (14.01%) died in the neonatal period. There was no statistically significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 in etiological profile (P >0.55), maternal mortality (P >0.66), and renal outcome (P >0.11). Postpartum AKI was associated with poor maternal outcome and renal recovery. Maternal mortality and renal recovery were not affected by need of dialysis in our patients. Proper antenatal care and peripartum monitoring with practicing aseptic precaution will definitely help in reduction of postpartum AKI and maternal mortality in our state.

The incidence of obesity has increased globally in children and adults. In addition, renal dysfunction is an important complication of childhood obesity. This study was performed to identify the diagnostic value of N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG), a renal injury marker, for the early determination of renal damage in childhood obesity. Totally, 115 obese children and 115 healthy normal weight controls were enrolled in a cross-sectional case-control study. Urine NAG was measured in sample urine and normalized by urine creatinine (CR). In addition, correlation of urine NAG with other variables such as blood pressure (BP), blood glucose, and urine albumin was evaluated. Mean systolic BP (P <0.001), serum glucose (P = 0.047), urine albumin/Cr (P = 0.049), and urine NAG/Cr (P = 0.037) were significantly higher in obese children, compared with normal healthy controls. There was no correlation between urine NAG and urine albumin excretion. Urinary NAG/Cr was a simple and safe screening test for early determination of renal damage in children with obesity.

Urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and interleukin-18 (IL- 18) have shown promise for predicting renal graft recovery. However, urinary flow rate variations may cause variable biomarker dilution. Plasma NGAL and IL-18 may form a biomarker panel that may help predict delayed graft function and slow graft function (SGF) in renal transplant recipients within the first two postoperative days earlier than serum creatinine. There are only a few studies in the literature using plasma NGAL for predicting renal graft recovery. Hence, we planned this study. This observational single-center, prospective cohort study was conducted in renal transplant recipients above 18 years of age. In 22 consecutive renal transplant recipients, we collected ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-plasma samples 1 h before surgery and subsequently at 6 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery for NGAL and IL-18 by sandwich enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay technique. Serum creatinine was measured as a part of routine transplant protocol. In renal transplant recipients, neither serum levels of NGAL and IL-18 nor their trends could reliably predict SGF. The only significant correlation existed between serum creatinine at day 2 and IL-18 at day 2 with P = 0.023. Serum NGAL did not correlate with serum creatinine in this setting of renal transplantation. Patients with immediate graft function had a greater percentage decrease of creatinine at day 1 and day 2 (P = 0.002 and 0.001) The percentage change in IL-18 at 24 h and 48 h after transplant from baseline could predict the occurrence of early graft loss (EGL) (P = 0.05, 0.04). The cutoffs were -4.12% at day 1 and +3.39% at day 2 with area under receiver operator characteristics of 0.82 and 0.83, respectively. The percentage change in IL-18 may be a useful marker of EGL in renal transplant recipients. Serum NGAL and creatinine were not able to predict EGL.

Children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) have a number of potential risk factors for the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) including intravascular volume depletion, infection, exposure to nephrotoxic medication, and renal interstitial edema. This study was aimed to determine the incidence of AKI in children hospitalized with a relapse of NS and its short-term outcome. This prospective observational study was conducted from February 2017 to January 2018 at a tertiary care teaching hospital. A total of 54 children and adolescents (1-18 years) hospitalized with a diagnosis of NS and relapse with/or without other complications were enrolled. Clinical data and examination were recorded. AKI was defined using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) serum creatinine criteria and Pediatric Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-Stage Renal Disease (p-RIFLE) classification. Children who developed AKI during the first two weeks of hospitalization were followed up till recovery or six weeks whichever was earlier to determine the outcome and factors predisposing to AKI. The mean age of the study population was 59.5 months and 35 (64.8%) patients were male. Of the 54 patients hospitalized, 42 (77.8%) were admitted with infection-associated relapses while 22.2% of children had relapse alone. Diarrhea and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis were the most common infections (26.1% each) followed by urinary tract infections in 19% and pneumonia in 14.3%. Twenty-three (42.6%) children developed AKI according to the KDIGO definition and 27 (50%) using the pRIFLE classification. Fourteen (60.9%) had stage 2 AKI while 21.7% had stage 3 AKI. Infections [odds ratio (OR) 1.24] and use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) (OR 2.3) were the most common predisposing factors for AKI. The mean recovery time for AKI was 7.34 days. Development of AKI was associated with prolonged hospital stay (12.57 vs.8.55 days P <0.01) and delayed recovery. At the end of follow-up all children recovered from AKI. The incidence of AKI in children hospitalized with complications of NS is high. While the occurrence of these AKI episodes may appear transient, a recurrence of such episodes may be detrimental to the long-term outcome of children with NS. Infections and the use of ACEI during relapses are risk factor for the occurrence of AKI.

Nurses are increasingly being regarded as the nucleus of the health care system, as well as serving as an advocate for health-care consumers. Therefore, adequate acute kidney injury (AKI) knowledge of nurses would definitely have a positive impact on an early diagnosis, management, and outcome of AKI. This cross-sectional study was aimed to assess the knowledge of AKI among nurses working at public and private hospitals at Lahore and Sialkot, Pakistan. The study was conducted from October 2017 to March 2018. A convenient sampling method was used and data were gathered using a self-administered questionnaire. The median knowledge score of the study population (n = 200) was 29, with majority (78.5%) having moderate knowledge (score 26-38). Only 2.5% of nurses had good AKI knowledge whereas 19.0% were found to have poor knowledge. Nurses' age, rank, and their departments had no significant impact on the knowledge scores. Furthermore, there was no significant difference of knowledge among participants who had previously attended any seminar/special training session regarding AKI and those who had not. In conclusion, majority of Pakistani nurses had moderate AKI knowledge. Therefore, in-service training sessions on AKI should be conducted to equip nurses with up-to-date AKI knowledge.

Contrast medium-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a leading cause of acquired acute kidney injury and has been associated with prolonged hospitalization and adverse clinical outcomes. This study aimed to determine if omega 3 fatty acids reduce the risk of CIN in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing coronary angiography. A total of 130 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography were randomly assigned to one of two groups as follows: 67 patients were assigned to the N-acetylcysteine (NAC; 1200 mg) and 63 patients were assigned to the omega 3 fatty acid (4 g). Both drugs were administered orally twice per day one day before and on the day of contrast administration. Of the 130 patients enrolled in this study, 10 (7.7%) experienced an increase of at least 0.5 mg/dL (44 μmol/L) in serum creatinine levels 48 h after administration of the contrast agent including 5 of the 67 patients in the NAC group (7.5%) and 5 of the 63 patients in the omega 3 fatty acids group (7.9%; P = 0.919). There were no significant differences in the need for renal replacement therapy (3.0% vs. 9.5%, P = 0.121) or in the mortality rate (3.0% vs. 6.3%, P = 0.361) between the two groups. Short-term prophylactic omega 3 fatty acid treatment with hydration does not reduce the risk of CIN in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing coronary angiography.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a potentially life-threatening condition. The injury involves the generation of inflammatory mediators which contribute to the recruitment of leukocytes to the site of inflammation. As those inflammatory mediators are secreted directly into the urine, their detection in urine could serve as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of early kidney injury. This is a prospective cross-sectional descriptive study. Urinary samples were collected from 170 subjects who were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) at Alkafeel Super Speciality Hospital from September 2017 to June 2018. They were tested for urinary interleukin-18 (IL-18). Among 98 patients, 20 were excluded depending on exclusion criteria. Seventy-two cases in the control group were included. The urine samples were collected at 24, 48, and 72 h after admission to ICU. AKI was diagnosed according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. The incidence rate of AKI among 78 patients who were admitted to ICU was 38.46%. Most of the patients with AKI belonged to stage 1 (80%) based on KDIGO guidelines2012. Urinary IL-18 levels were significantly higher (P <0.0001) in the AKI group in comparison with the non-AKI group. The result of receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the higher area under the curve for urinary IL-18 was 0.946 measured at 24 h before development of AKI (P <0.000), with 87.5% sensitivity and 94.4% specificity. In addition, there was no significant difference of urinary IL-18 levels between the different causes of AKI. The results of the study indicate that urinary IL-18 has an excellent performance in predicting AKI in ICU patients.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an abrupt or rapid decline in renal function as evidenced by a rapid rise in serum creatinine (SCr) or decrease in urine output. AKI occurs in children. The aim of the study is to document the epidemiology of AKI in our setting. This was a prospective cross-sectional observational study of all the admissions at the children emergency room of Federal Medical Center in Asaba, Delta State. A diagnosis of community-acquired AKI was made using the pRIFLE criteria if there was a 25% decrease in estimated creatinine clearance from the premorbid baseline (if known) or assumed baseline of 100 mL/min/1.73 m 2 and/or urine output <0.5 mL/kg/h for >8 h within the 48 h of admission. There were 404 admissions during the period and those with AKI were 58, giving an incidence rate of 14.4 cases per 100 children aged between >1 month and 16 years. The mean age of the subjects with AKI was 35.7 months. Subjects with AKI stages R (risk), I (injury), and F (failure) were, respectively, 44.8%, 39.7%, and 8.6%. The most common causes were acute gastroenteritis (36.2%), complicated malaria (10.3%), and primary renal disease (10.3%). Age group and sickle cell anemia predicted AKI in these subjects. For the outcome of the AKI, two (3.4%) died, while 55 (96.6%) subjects were discharged alive. The level of SCr within 48 h of admission predicted the outcome of AKI. The prevalence of AKI is high, gastroenteritis being the most common etiology.

Prediction of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients allows prompt intervention that improves outcome. We aimed for external validation of two AKI prediction scores that can be bedside calculated. A prospective observational study included patients admitted to medical and surgical critical care units. Performance of two AKI prediction scores, Malhotra score and acute kidney injury prediction score (APS), was assessed for their ability to predict AKI. The best cutoff point for each score was determined by Youden index. Area under the receiving operation characteristic curve, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were used to assess performance of each score. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were done to detect the predictability of AKI. Goodness-of-fit and kappa Cohen agreement tests were done to show whether the expected score results fit well and agree with the observed results. AKI prevalence was 37.6%. The best cutoff values were 5 and 4 for Malhotra score and APS, respectively. Area under the curve for Malhotra 5 was 0.712 and for APS 4 was 0.652 with nearly similar sensitivity and specificity. Regression analysis demonstrated that Malhotra 5 was the independent predictor of AKI. Goodness-of-fit test showed significant results denoting lack of fit between the scores and the actual results. Kappa test showed moderate agreement for Malhotra 5 and fair agreement for APS 4. Both scores showed moderate performance for AKI prediction. Malhotra 5 showed better performance compared to APS 4. Multicenter international study is warranted to develop a universal model that can predict AKI in critically ill patients.

Urinary biomarkers such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and renalase were recently studied for their potential role in the early detection of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with cirrhosis. Our study was conducted on 50 patients with end-stage liver disease undergoing living donor liver transplantation. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I contained 23 patients with AKI who had undergone liver transplantation and Group II included 27 non-AKI patients who had undergone liver transplantation. Serum renalase and NGAL levels were measured by ELISA; renalase was measured on day 1, day 7, and three months after liver transplantation. NGAL was measured on day 1 postliver transplantation. There was an improvement in liver function, kidney functions, hemoglobin level, platelet count, and C- reactive protein levels in patients at three months posttransplantation when compared to day 1, day 3, and day 7 (P < 0.01). Comparison of the renalase level at day 1, day 7, and three months showed that there was a highly significant decline at three months in the AKI group compared to the non-AKI group (P < 0.01). Regarding the NGAL level at day 1, there was no significant difference between the AKI and non-AKI groups (P > 0.05). The receiver operating characteristic curve for the renalase biomarker showed a borderline significant change between the AKI and non-AKI groups at day 1 [area under the curve (AUC): 0.54, P = 0.08], day 7 (AUC: 0.605, P = 0.08), and three months (AUC: 0.605, P = 0.08). However, the NGAL biomarker level was not significantly different between the AKI and non-AKI groups. Our study suggests that renalase showed a better predictive value and a higher accuracy in identifying postliver transplantation patients with AKI than NGAL.

Dengue viral infection (DVI) has emerged as one of the most common arthropod borne diseases and is more prevalent in the tropical countries. It has varied clinical spectrum ranging from undifferentiated fever to severe hemorrhagic fever and shock with multi-organ dysfunction. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is lesser known complication in DVI. Although studies report varying reports of AKI in DVI among children, exact incidence is not known as most of the studies are retrospective. Hospital-based observational study in 105 children with DVI requiring admission was studied for the occurrence of AKI along with clinical course and outcome. AKI Network (AKIN) criteria were used to define AKI. The IBM SPSS Statistics software version 21.0 was used for the statistical analysis. Of 105 children with dengue, six (5.71%) cases developed AKI. All six cases had urine output <0.5 mL/kg/h for ≥12 h. Out of six cases with AKI, four had raised serum creatinine (SCr) ≥0.3 mg/dL at admission. One child had normal SCr level at admission which got deranged over the next 12 h, one child had oliguria ( <0.5 mL/kg/h) for about 24 h though the renal function was not deranged. Out of six children with AKI, three (50%) in Stage III and three had AKI Stage II as per the AKIN criteria. Children with AKI (Group A) differed significantly from those without AKI (Group B) in having blood pressure <3 rd centile (P = 0.0023), tachycardia P = 0.008), hyponatremia and hypokalemia (P <0.001 and P = 0.029, respectively) and poor outcome 6% mortality in Group B compared to 66.67% in Group A) with P = 0.001. AKI is not a common complication of DVI but if develops it may lead to significant morbidity and mortality among pediatric age group.

There are only a few reports on the role of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in critically ill patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapies (RRT). This study aimed to determine the efficacy and outcome of intermittent PD in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients in intensive care unit setting and to assess the procedure-related complications. This was a prospective, observational study conducted from March 1, 2015, to February 29, 2016, which included patients of either sex, aged ≥18 years, diagnosed with AKI, and undergoing RRT with intermittent PD sessions with more than 48 h of hospital stay. Patients were later shifted to sustained low- efficiency dialysis or hemodialysis, when they became hemodynamically stable. Hence, the patients who received at least 48 h of PD were included in the study. A total of 75 patients were enrolled. Overall, the mean age was 55.75 years, and around 64% were men. The most common indication to start PD was metabolic acidosis, and the most common cause of AKI was sepsis. A total of 21 patients survived, and the mortality rate was 72%. The average peritoneal urea clearance and creatinine clearance were 14.81 mL/min and 12.59 mL/min, respectively. Of the 66 patients on inotropes, 28 patients were tapered from inotropic support. Thirty-nine patients had hyperkalemia, and 27 patients had correction within 1 day of the start of PD. Forty-seven patients had correction of acidosis, and 33 of these achieved pH ≥7.25 within one day of PD. The most common complication that occurred was peri-catheter leaks followed by peritonitis. Acute PD can be an effective, simple, and safe bridge RRT in hemodynamically unstable patients until the achievement of hemodynamic stability to shift them to other modalities of RRT.