COVID-19-associated acute kidney injury
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sogand Goudarzi, MD [2], Nasrin Nikravangolsefid, MD-MPH [3]
Synonyms and keywords: COVID-19-associated AKI
Overview
COVID-19 can involve many organs leading to organ failure, one of which is kidneys that manifest with mild proteinuria to advanced acute kidney injury (AKI).
Historical Perspective
- Early reports from China revealed that COVID-19 rarely involves the kidneys, as acute renal failure was not seen among COVID-19 hospitalized patients and mild BUN or creatinine rise [10.8%] and mild proteinuria [7.2%] occurred. [1]
- However, recent study found 75.4% of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia developed hematuria, proteinuria, and AKI. But, these findings are not significantly different from other critical diseases.[2]
Pathophysiology
- Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is a primary receptor for SARS-CoV-2 entry into cells, mostly presents in renal tubular epithelial cells as well as lungs and heart.[3]
- Despite kidney injury following COVID-19 infection is less frequent than severe lung injury, ACE2: ACE ratio is higher in the kidneys compared to the respiratory system. (1:1 in the kidneys VS 1:20 in the respiratory system)[3]
- After SARS-CoV-2 enters through the nasal cavity, it may travel to the kidneys and enters the bloodstream leading to severe inflammatory response activation and cytokine storm.
- It is thought that AKI following COVID-19 is the result of: [3]
- Sepsis
- Hypovolemia and Hypotension
- Hypoxemia
- Blood clots formation, leading to impaired blood flow in the renal arterioles.
Causes
- SARS-CoV-2 may have a Kidney tropism. As a recent study found SARS-CoV-2 antigens in renal tubules which suggests the direct damage of SARS-CoV-2 on the kidneys. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.04.20031120v4. Missing or empty
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Epidemiology and Demographics
- AKI is frequently seen among patients with COVID-19 hospitalized in ICU, with prevalence of 0.6-29% in China "Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Patients | COVID-19". and 22.2% in the USA.[6]
- The incidence of AKI in critcally ill patients with COVID-19 is estimated between 27-85%. "Acute Kidney Injury in COVID-19 Patients | COVID-19".
Risk Factors
- The most potent risk factors in the development of COVID-19 associated AKI include[7]:
- Elderly
- Age>60 years
- Comorbidities
- Elderly
Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis
Natural History
- AKI is more likely to develop in the late stages of COVID-19 in critically ill patients.[8]
- Severe COVID-19 pneumonia and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome are associated with developing AKI.[2]
- If no improvement occurs during follow-up, it is contributed to higher mortality.[2]
Diagnosis
Symptoms
- Patients in the early stages of kidney failure may be asymptomatic. If left untreated, patients may progress to develop Azotemia and Uremia, which occur due to the buildup of waste materials in the blood.
- Symptoms of kidney injury include:[9]
Laboratory Findings
- Laboratory findings of COVID-19-associated acute kidney injury include:
- Elevated BUN level
- Plasma BUN-creatinine ratio> 20 in prerenal AKI
- Plasma BUN-creatinine ratio< 15 in renal AKI or Acute Tubular Necrosis
- Based on KDIGO definition for the diagnosis of AKI[10]:
- Elevated serum Creatinine by ≥0.3 mg/dl (≥26.5 μmol/l) within 48 hours; or
- Elevated serum Creatinine to ≥1.5 times baseline within the previous 7 days; or
- Urine volume < 0.5 ml/kg/h for >6 hours
- Fractional excretion of sodium (FENa)
- (FENa)< 1% in prerenal AKI
- (FENa)> 2% in renal AKI or Acute Tubular Necrosis
- Urinary sediment
- Hyaline casts in prerenal AKI
- Granular or Muddy brown casts in renal AKI or Acute Tubular Necrosis
- Elevated BUN level
Electrocardiogram
- There are no specific ECG findings associated with AKI. However, electrolyte disturbances such as hyperkalemia might lead to various ECG abnormalities.
Treatment
Medical Therapy
- Management of AKI following COVID-19 includes treatment of infection, identifying electrolyte disorders, and intravenous fluid administration.
- Treatment of AKI following COVID-19 includes:[8]
- Correction of hypovolemia and hypotension by the administration of adequate intravenous fluid
- Correction of electrolyte disturbances
- Renal Replacement Therapy
- If AKI is unresponsive to conservative therapy
- In volume overload conditions
- Modality of choice in unstable hemodynamic status and ESRD
- Anticoagulants in hypercoagulable conditions
- Sequential extracorporeal therapy
References
- ↑ Wang, Luwen; Li, Xun; Chen, Hui; Yan, Shaonan; Li, Dong; Li, Yan; Gong, Zuojiong (2020). "Coronavirus Disease 19 Infection Does Not Result in Acute Kidney Injury: An Analysis of 116 Hospitalized Patients from Wuhan, China". American Journal of Nephrology. 51 (5): 343–348. doi:10.1159/000507471. ISSN 0250-8095.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Pei, Guangchang; Zhang, Zhiguo; Peng, Jing; Liu, Liu; Zhang, Chunxiu; Yu, Chong; Ma, Zufu; Huang, Yi; Liu, Wei; Yao, Ying; Zeng, Rui; Xu, Gang (2020). "Renal Involvement and Early Prognosis in Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia". Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 31 (6): 1157–1165. doi:10.1681/ASN.2020030276. ISSN 1046-6673.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Malha, Line; Mueller, Franco B.; Pecker, Mark S.; Mann, Samuel J.; August, Phyllis; Feig, Peter U. (2020). "COVID-19 and the Renin-Angiotensin System". Kidney International Reports. 5 (5): 563–565. doi:10.1016/j.ekir.2020.03.024. ISSN 2468-0249.
- ↑ Ye M, Wysocki J, William J, Soler MJ, Cokic I, Batlle D (2006). "Glomerular localization and expression of Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 and Angiotensin-converting enzyme: implications for albuminuria in diabetes". J Am Soc Nephrol. 17 (11): 3067–75. doi:10.1681/ASN.2006050423. PMID 17021266.
- ↑ Perico L, Benigni A, Remuzzi G (2020). "Should COVID-19 Concern Nephrologists? Why and to What Extent? The Emerging Impasse of Angiotensin Blockade". Nephron. 144 (5): 213–221. doi:10.1159/000507305. PMC 7179544 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 32203970 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Richardson S, Hirsch JS, Narasimhan M, Crawford JM, McGinn T, Davidson KW; et al. (2020). "Presenting Characteristics, Comorbidities, and Outcomes Among 5700 Patients Hospitalized With COVID-19 in the New York City Area". JAMA. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.6775. PMC 7177629 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 32320003 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Rabb H (2020). "Kidney diseases in the time of COVID-19: major challenges to patient care". J Clin Invest. 130 (6): 2749–2751. doi:10.1172/JCI138871. PMC 7259985 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 32250968 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Ronco C, Reis T, Husain-Syed F (2020). "Management of acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19". Lancet Respir Med. doi:10.1016/S2213-2600(20)30229-0. PMC 7255232 Check
|pmc=value (help). PMID 32416769 Check|pmid=value (help). - ↑ Skorecki K, Green J, Brenner BM (2005). "Chronic renal failure". In Kasper DL, Braunwald E, Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine (16th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill. pp. 1653–63. ISBN 978-0-07-139140-5.
- ↑ Khwaja A (2012). "KDIGO clinical practice guidelines for acute kidney injury". Nephron Clin Pract. 120 (4): c179–84. doi:10.1159/000339789. PMID 22890468.