Predictive value of urine interleukin-18 in the evolution and outcome of acute kidney injury in critically ill adult patients

Background Interleukin-18 (IL-18) is a pro-inflammatory protein, which mediates ischaemic tubular injury, and has been suggested to be a sensitive and specific biomarker for acute kidney injury (AKI). The predictive value of IL-18 in the diagnosis, evolution, and outcome of AKI in critically ill patients is still unclear. Methods We measured urine IL-18 from critically ill patients at intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 24 h. We evaluated the association of IL-18 with developing new AKI, renal replacement therapy (RRT), and 90-day mortality. We calculated areas under receiver operating characteristics curves (AUCs), best cut-off values, and positive likelihood ratios (LR+) for IL-18 concerning these endpoints. Additionally, we compared the predictive value of IL-18 at ICU admission to that of urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Results In this study population of 1439 patients the highest urine IL-18 during the first 24 h in the ICU associated with the development of AKI with an AUC [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 0.586 (0.546–0.627) and with the development of Stage 3 AKI with an AUC (95% CI) of 0.667 (0.591–0.774). IL-18 predicted the initiation of RRT with an AUC (95% CI) of 0.655 (0.572–0.739), and 90-day mortality with an AUC (95% CI) of 0.536 (0.497–0.574). Conclusions IL-18 had poor-to-moderate ability to predict AKI, RRT, or 90-day mortality in this large cohort of critically ill patients. Thus, it should be used with caution for diagnostic or predictive purposes in the critically ill.