The changing nature of COVID-19 associated AKI: Where are we now?

Evolving Clinical Manifestations and Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients: A Comparative Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Variant Waves in a Romanian Hospital Setting

The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the clinical manifestations and outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 in a single Romanian center during four pandemic waves determined by different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). A retrospective study on 9049 consecutive hospitalized adult patients was performed between 27 February 2020 and 31 March 2023. The study interval was divided into waves based on national data on SARS-CoV-2 VOCs' circulation. Multivariate logistic regression models were built, predicting death and complications as functions of comorbidities, therapy, wave, severity form, and vaccination status, and adjusted for ages ≥65 years. Pulmonary (pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum, pulmonary embolism) and extrapulmonary complications (liver injury, acute kidney injury, ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, and gastrointestinal bleeding) were present, more frequently in ICU hospitalized patients and with differences between waves. The highest in-hospital mortality was found in patients presenting pneumothorax/pneumomediastinum. All of the evaluated risk factors were significantly associated with death, except for obesity and the Omicron wave. Our study highlights the changing nature of COVID-19 and acknowledges the impacts of viral mutations on disease outcomes. For all four waves, COVID-19 was a severe disease with a high risk of poor outcomes.

Epidemiology and Outcome of Early-Onset Acute Kidney Injury and Recovery in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Analysis

Background: The clinical significance of early-onset acute kidney injury (EO-AKI) and recovery in severe COVID-19 intensive care unit (ICU) patients is poorly documented. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiology and outcome of EO-AKI and recovery in ICU patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. Design: This was a retrospective single-centre study. Setting: The study was carried out at the medical ICU of the university hospital of Clermont-Ferrand, France. Patients: All consecutive adult patients aged ≥18 years admitted between 20 March 2020 and 31 August 2021 for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia were enrolled. Patients with chronic kidney disease, referred from another ICU, and with an ICU length of stay (LOS) ≤72 h were excluded. Interventions: EO-AKI was defined on the basis of serum creatinine levels according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria, developing ≤7 days. Depending on renal recovery, defined by the normalization of serum creatinine levels, EO-AKI was transient (recovery within 48 h), persistent (recovery between 3 and 7 days) or AKD (no recovery within 7 days after EO-AKI onset). Measurements: Uni- and multivariate analyses were performed to determine factors associated with EO-AKI and EO-AKI recovery. Main Results: EO-AKI occurred in 84/266 (31.5%) study patients, of whom 42 (50%), 17 (20.2%) and 25 (29.7%) had EO-AKI stages 1, 2 and 3, respectively. EO-AKI was classified as transient, persistent and AKD in 40 (47.6%), 15 (17.8%) and 29 (34.6%) patients, respectively. The 90-day mortality was 87/244 (35.6%) and increased with EO-AKI occurrence and severity: no EO-AKI, 38/168 (22.6%); EO-AKI stage 1, 22/39 (56.4%); stage 2, 9/15 (60%); and stage 3, 18/22 (81.8%) (p < 0.01). The 90-day mortality in patients with transient or persistent AKI and AKD was 20/36 (55.6%), 8/14 (57.1%) and 21/26 (80.8%), respectively (p < 0.01). MAKE-90 occurred in 42.6% of all patients. Conclusions: In ICU patients admitted for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, the development of EO-AKI and time to recovery beyond day 7 of onset were associated with poor outcome.

Rhabdomyolysis-Induced AKI (RIAKI) Including the Role of COVID-19

Rhabdomyolysis is a compound disease that may be induced by many factors, both congenital and acquired. Statin therapy is considered one of the most common acquired factors. However, recent scientific reports suggest that serious complications such as rhabdomyolysis are rarely observed. Researchers suggest that, in many cases, side effects that occur with statin therapy, including muscle pain, can be avoided with lower-dose statin therapy or in combination therapy with other drugs. One of the most recent agents discovered to contribute to rhabdomyolysis is COVID-19 disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Rhabdomyolysis is defined as a damage to striated muscle cells with escape of intracellular substances into the bloodstream. These substances, including myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), potassium, and uridine acid, are markers of muscle damage and early complications of rhabdomyolysis. Symptoms may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis. However, in almost 50% of patients, they do not occur. Therefore, the diagnosis is confirmed by serum CK levels five times higher than the upper limit of normal. One of the late complications of this condition is acute kidney injury (AKI), which is immediately life-threatening and has a high mortality rate among patients. Therefore, the prompt detection and treatment of rhabdomyolysis is important. Markers of muscle damage, such as CK, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), myoglobin, troponins, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), are important in diagnosis. Treatment of rhabdomyolysis is mainly based on early, aggressive fluid resuscitation. However, therapeutic interventions, such as urinary alkalinization with sodium bicarbonate or the administration of mannitol or furosemide, have not proven to be beneficial. In some patients who develop AKI in the course of rhabdomyolysis, renal replacement therapy (RRT) is required.