Update on the diagnosis and management of acute kidney injury

Ali Akcay, Kultigin Turkmen, DongWon Lee, Charles L EdelsteinDivision of Renal Diseases and Hypertension, University of Colorado and the Health Sciences Center, Aurora, Colorado, USAAbstract: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an independent risk factor for morbidity and mortality. This review provides essential information for the diagnosis and management of AKI. Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine are used for the diagnosis of AKI. The review also focuses on recent studies on the diagnosis of AKI using the RIFLE (R-renal risk, I-injury, F-failure, L-loss of kidney function, E-end stage kidney disease) and Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria, and serum and urine AKI biomarkers. Dialysis is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved therapy for AKI. Recent studies on the dose of dialysis in AKI are reviewed.Keywords: acute kidney injury, biomarkers, interleukin-18