Sepsis may not be a risk factor for mortality in patients with acute kidney injury treated with continuous renal replacement therapy

Predictors of Mortality in Adults with Acute Kidney Injury Requiring Dialysis: A Cohort Analysis

Introduction

Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy is accompanied by considerable mortality. This present study evaluated predictors of mortality at initiation of hemodialysis (HD) in AKI patients in Goma (in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)).

Methods

A single-centre cohort survey evaluated the clinical profile and survival rates of AKI patients admitted to HD in the only HD centre in Goma, North Kivu province (DRC). Data were collected from patients who underwent HD for AKI. Patient demographics, comorbidities, clinical presentation, laboratory tests, and mortality were reviewed and analyzed. The survival study used the Kaplan–Meier curve. Predictors of mortality were evaluated using Cox regression.

Results

Of the 131 eligible patients, the mean age was 43.69 ± 16.56 years (range: 18–90 years). Men represented 54.96% of the cohort. The overall HD mortality rate was 25.19% (n = 33). In multivariate analysis, independent predictors of mortality in AKI stage 3 patients admitted to HD were as follows: age ≥ 60 years (adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) = 15.89; 95% CI: 3.98–63.40; p < 0.0001), traditional herbal medicine intake (AHR = 5.10; 95% CI: 2.10–12.38; p < 0.0001), HIV infection (AHR = 5.55; 95% CI: 1.48–20.73; p=0.011), anemia (AHR = 9.57; 95% CI: 2.08–43.87; p=0.004), hyperkalemia (AHR = 6.23; 95% CI: 1.26–30.72; p=0.025), respiratory distress (AHR = 4.66; 95% CI: 2.07–10.50; p < 0.0001), and coma (AHR = 11.39; 95% CI: 3.51–36.89; p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Initiation of hemodialysis with AKI has improved survival in patients with different complications.

Mortality and associated risk factors in patients with blood culture positive sepsis and acute kidney injury requiring continuous renal replacement therapy-A retrospective study

Objectives

Septic acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) carries a mortality risk nearing 50%. Risk factors associated with mortality in AKI patients undergoing CRRT with blood culture positive sepsis remain unclear as sepsis has been defined according to consensus criteria in previous studies.

Methods

Risk factors associated with intensive care unit (ICU), 90-day and overall mortality were studied in a retrospective cohort of 126 patients with blood culture positive sepsis and coincident severe AKI requiring CRRT. Comprehensive laboratory and clinical data were gathered at ICU admission and CRRT initiation.

Results

38 different causative pathogens for sepsis and associated AKI were identified. ICU mortality was 30%, 90-day mortality 45% and one-year mortality 50%. Immunosuppression, history of heart failure, APACHE II and SAPS II scores, C-reactive protein and lactate at CRRT initiation were independently associated with mortality in multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Blood lactate showed good predictive power for ICU mortality in receiver operating characteristic curve analyses with AUCs of 0.76 (95%CI 0.66–0.85) for lactate at ICU admission and 0.84 (95%CI 0.72–0.95) at CRRT initiation.

Conclusions

Our study shows for the first time that lactate measured at CRRT initiation is predictive of ICU mortality and independently associated with overall mortality in patients with blood culture positive sepsis and AKI requiring CRRT. Microbial etiology for septic AKI requiring CRRT is diverse.

Acute Kidney Injury in Sepsis: Evidence From Asia

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent complications of sepsis. Because sepsis and AKI synergistically worsen the outcomes of critically ill patients, better therapeutics against septic AKI urgently are required. In addition to the complexity of disease mechanisms of both sepsis and AKI, there is substantial regional variation in clinical practice, which further hampers the development of new treatments for septic AKI. To overcome this problem, evidence accumulation is necessary for building the foundation for developing novel septic AKI treatments. This review provides a summary of updated evidence regarding septic AKI from Asian regions.

Prognostic Impact of Parameters of Metabolic Acidosis in Critically Ill Children with Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Observational Analysis Using the PIC Database

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major complication of sepsis that induces acid-base imbalances. While creatinine levels are the only indicator for assessing the prognosis of AKI, prognostic importance of metabolic acidosis is unknown. We conducted a retrospective observational study by analyzing a large China-based pediatric critical care database from 2010 to 2018. Participants were critically ill children with AKI admitted to intensive care units (ICUs). The study included 1505 children admitted to ICUs with AKI, including 827 males and 678 females. The median age at ICU admission was 22 months (interquartile range 7–65). After a median follow-up of 10.87 days, 4.3% (65 patients) died. After adjusting for confounding factors, hyperlactatemia, low pH, and low bicarbonate levels were independently associated with 28-day mortality (respective odds ratio: 3.06, 2.77, 2.09; p values: <0.01, <0.01, <0.01). The infection had no interaction with the three parameters. The AKI stage negatively interacted with bicarbonate and pH but not lactate. The current study shows that among children with AKI, hyperlactatemia, low pH, and hypobicarbonatemia are associated with 28-day mortality.

Prescription of CRRT: a pathway to optimize therapy

Severe acute kidney injury (AKI), especially when caused or accompanied by sepsis, is associated with prolonged hospitalization, progression to chronic kidney disease (CKD), financial burden, and high mortality rate. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a predominant form of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to its accurate volume control, steady acid-base and electrolyte correction, and achievement of hemodynamic stability. This manuscript reviews the different aspects of CRRT prescription in critically ill patients with severe AKI, sepsis, and multiorgan failure in ICU. These include the choice of CRRT versus Intermittent and extended hemodialysis (HD), life of the filter/dialyzer including assessment of filtration fraction, anticoagulation including regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA), prescribed versus delivered CRRT dose, vascular access management, timing of initiation and termination of CRRT, and prescription in AKI/sepsis including adsorptive methods of removing endotoxins and cytokines.

Development of a new mortality scoring system for acute kidney injury with continuous renal replacement therapy

AIM

On the basis of the worst outcomes of patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in intensive care unit, previously developed mortality prediction model, Acute Physiologic Assessment and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) and the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) needs to be modified.

METHODS

A total of 828 patients who underwent CRRT were recruited. Mortality prediction model was developed for the prediction of death within 7 days after starting the CRRT. Based on regression analysis, modified scores were assigned to each variable which were originally used in the APACHE II and SOFA scoring models. Additionally, a new abbreviated Mortality Scoring system for AKI with CRRT (MOSAIC) was developed after stepwise selection analysis.

RESULTS

We used all the variables included in the APACHE II and SOFA scoring models. The prediction powers indicated by C-statistics were 0.686 and 0.683 for 7-day mortality by the APACHE II and SOFA systems, respectively. After modification of these models, the prediction powers increased up to 0.752 for the APACHE II and 0.724 for the SOFA systems. Using multivariate analysis, seven significant variables were selected in the MOSAIC model wherein its C-statistic value was 0.772. These models also showed good performance with 0.720, 0.734 and 0.773 of C-statistics in the modified APACHE II, modified SOFA and MOSAIC scoring models in the external validation cohort (n = 497).

CONCLUSION

The modified APACHE II/SOFA and newly developed MOSAIC models could be more useful tool for predicting mortality for patients receiving CRRT.

The Japanese clinical practice guideline for acute kidney injury 2016

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome which has a broad range of etiologic factors depending on different clinical settings. Because AKI has significant impacts on prognosis in any clinical settings, early detection and intervention is necessary to improve the outcomes of AKI patients. This clinical guideline for AKI was developed by a multidisciplinary approach with nephrology, intensive care medicine, blood purification, and pediatrics. Of note, clinical practice for AKI management which was widely performed in Japan was also evaluated with comprehensive literature search.

The Japanese Clinical Practice Guideline for acute kidney injury 2016

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome which has a broad range of etiologic factors depending on different clinical settings. Because AKI has significant impacts on prognosis in any clinical settings, early detection and intervention are necessary to improve the outcomes of AKI patients. This clinical guideline for AKI was developed by a multidisciplinary approach with nephrology, intensive care medicine, blood purification, and pediatrics. Of note, clinical practice for AKI management which was widely performed in Japan was also evaluated with comprehensive literature search.

Angiopoietin Balance in Septic Shock Patients With Acute Kidney Injury: Effects of Direct Hemoperfusion With Polymyxin B-Immobilized Fiber

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in approximately 50% of patients in septic shock, and mortality from septic AKI is extremely high. Angiopoietin levels may play a role in the pathogenesis of vascular permeability. It was reported that direct hemoperfusion with a polymyxin B-immobilized fiber column (DHP-PMX) therapy ameliorates the angiopoietin balance in patients with sepsis. Although dysregulated angiopoietin balance in sepsis has been demonstrated, mechanisms underlying the development of AKI in sepsis have not been identified. We investigated angiopoietin levels in septic patients with/without AKI treated with DHP-PMX therapy. We used an enzyme-linked immunoassay to measure serum angiopoietin-1 and -2 levels in 38 septic shock patients treated with DHP-PMX. The renal function of all patients was normal for less than 3 months. Twenty-seven of the patients were diagnosed with AKI. The angiopoietin-1 level of the AKI group was significantly lower than that of the non-AKI group at the initiation of DHP-PMX therapy, but there was no significant difference between the two groups at the end of DHP-PMX therapy. In the AKI group with recovery, the mean angiopoietin-1 level at the end of DHP-PMX therapy was significantly elevated compared to the level before DHP-PMX therapy, and the mean angiopoietin-2 level at the end of DHP-PMX therapy was significantly decreased compared to the level before DHP-PMX therapy. These results suggest that angiopoietins may play a role in the pathogenesis of AKI and that DHP-PMX therapy may ameliorate the angiopoietin balance in AKI patients with sepsis.

Cardiorenal syndrome in sepsis: A narrative review

Multi-organ dysfunction is seen in nearly 40-60% of all patients presenting with sepsis, including renal and cardiac dysfunction. Cardiorenal syndrome type-5 reflects concomitant cardiac and renal dysfunction secondary to a systemic condition that primarily affects both organs, such as sepsis. There are limited data on the etiology, pathogenesis and clinical implications of cardiorenal syndrome in sepsis. Cardiac dysfunction and injury can be measured with cardiac biomarkers, echocardiographic dysfunction, and hemodynamic parameters. Acute kidney injury is systematically evaluated using serum creatinine and urine output criteria. This review seeks to systematically describe the epidemiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, diagnosis and management of cardiorenal syndrome type-5 in the setting of sepsis.

Relationship between nitrogen loss and blood urea nitrogen concentrations in patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy

Aim

It is well known that continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) produces some amount of nitrogen loss, but there are few tools that are easily applied to measure it. This study aimed to evaluate nitrogen loss using blood urea nitrogen (BUN) measurement in patients receiving CRRT.

Methods

The subjects were 28 patients who received CRRT (except for liver failure) between 2010 and 2012. Nutrition data and nitrogen excretion in dialysate and urine were measured.

Results

The median age of the patients was 61 years, with an Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score of 27 points and a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score of 12 points. All-cause hospital mortality was 50%. Median protein intake was 40 g/day. The daily urinary volume was 245 mL and volume of dialysate was 26,000 mL/day. The median amount of nitrogen loss was 10.58 g/day, with BUN showing a strong correlation (r = 0.804, P < 0.0001). There was a poor relation between protein intake (g/kg body weight) and nitrogen balance (r = 0.322, P = 0.002).

Conclusions

In patients receiving CRRT, the nitrogen loss showed a positive correlation with BUN but not with protein intake. According to the guidelines, recommended protein intake was 1.5-2.0 g/kg/day, but we should be careful to avoid elevating BUN at the same time. The results showed that BUN might be a useful marker to check nitrogen balance in the nutritional management of patients receiving CRRT.