Erythropoietin in traumatic brain injury associated acute kidney injury: A randomized controlled trial

Classification and Regression Tree Predictive Model for Acute Kidney Injury in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is prevalent in hospitalized patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and increases the risk of poor outcomes. We designed this study to develop a visual and convenient decision-tree-based model for predicting AKI in TBI patients.

Methods

A total of 376 patients admitted to the emergency department of the West China Hospital for TBI between January 2015 and June 2019 were included. Demographic information, vital signs on admission, laboratory test results, radiological signs, surgical options, and medications were recorded as variables. AKI was confirmed since the second day after admission, based on the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes criteria. We constructed two predictive models for AKI using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and classification and regression tree (CART), respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of these two predictive models were drawn, and the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated to compare their predictive accuracy.

Results

The incidence of AKI on the second day after admission was 10.4% among patients with TBI. Lasso regression identified five potent predictive factors for AKI: glucose, serum creatinine, cystatin C, serum uric acid, and fresh frozen plasma transfusions. The CART analysis showed that glucose, serum uric acid, and cystatin C ranked among the top three in terms of the feature importance of the decision tree model. The AUC value of the decision-tree predictive model was 0.892, which was higher than the 0.854 of the LASSO regression model, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The decision tree model is valuable for predicting AKI among patients with TBI. This tree-based flowchart is convenient for physicians to identify patients with TBI who are at high risk of AKI and prompts them to develop suitable therapeutic strategies.

Severe traumatic brain injury and acute kidney injury patients: factors associated with in-hospital mortality and unfavorable outcomes

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to identify the occurrence of AKI, and factors associated with in-hospital mortality and unfavorable outcomes in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and acute kidney injury (AKI) severity.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort study which analyzed data with severe TBI between 2013 and 2017. We examined demographic and clinical information, and outcome by in-hospital mortality, and the Glasgow Outcome Scale six months after TBI. We associated factors to in-hospital mortality and unfavorable outcome in severe TBI and AKI with an association test.

RESULTS

A total of 219 patients were selected, 39.3% had an AKI, and several factors associated with AKI occurrence after severe TBI. Stage 2 or 3 of AKI (OR 12.489; 95% CI = 4.45-37.94) were independent risk for both outcomes in multivariable models, severity injury by the New Trauma Injury Severity Score (OR 0.97; 95% CI = 0.96-0.99) for mortality, and the New Injury Severity Score (OR1.07; 95% CI = 1.04-1.10) and Trauma and Injury Severity Score (OR = 0.98; 95% CI = 0.965-0.997) for unfavorable outcome.

CONCLUSION

The findings of our study confirmed that AKI severity and severity of injury was also related to increased mortality and unfavorable outcome after severe TBI.

Hypomagnesemia Is Associated with the Acute Kidney Injury in Traumatic Brain Injury Patients: A Pilot Study

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) commonly develops among traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and causes poorer outcomes. We perform this study to explore the relationship between serum magnesium and the risk of AKI among TBI. Methods: TBI patients recorded in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care-III database were eligible for this research. The restricted cubic spline (RCS) was utilized to fit the correlation between serum magnesium level and the AKI. Univariate and subsequent multivariate logistic regression analysis were utilized to explore risk factors of AKI and confirmed the correlation between serum magnesium and AKI. Results: The incidence of AKI in included TBI was 21.0%. The RCS showed that the correlation between magnesium level and risk of AKI was U-shaped. Compared with patients whose magnesium level was between 1.5 and 2.0 mg/dL, those with a magnesium level of <1.5 mg/dL or >2.0 mg/dL had a higher incidence of AKI. Multivariate logistic regression confirmed age, chronic renal disease, ISS, serum creatinine, vasopressor, mechanical ventilation, and serum magnesium <1.5 mg/dL were independently related with the AKI in TBI. Conclusion: Abnormal low serum magnesium level is correlated with AKI development in TBI patients. Physicians should pay attention on renal function of TBI patients especially those with hypomagnesemia.

ANTIOXIDANT-PROOXIDANT BALANCE OF THE KIDNEYS IN RATS OF DIFFERENT AGES UNDER CONDITIONS OF EXPERIMENTAL CRANIOSKELETAL TRAUMA

OBJECTIVE

The aim: To determine the peculiarities of the antioxidant-prooxidant balance in the kidney of rats of different ages under conditions of experimental cranioskeletal trauma (CST).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Materials and methods: The experiments involved 147 male white Wistar rats of different age groups. The first experimental group included immature animals aged 100-120 days. The second group included sexually mature animals aged 6-8 months. The third group included old animals aged 19-23 months. In all experimental groups, CST was modelled under thiopental-sodium anaesthesia. The control groups of rats was only injected with thiopental-sodium anaesthesia. The animals were withdrawn from the experiments under anaesthesia after 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days by total bleeding from the heart. The content of reagents to thiobarbituric acid and catalase activity was determined in a 10 % kidney homogenate extract, and the antioxidant-prooxidant index (API) was calculated from the ratio of these two parameters.

RESULTS

Results: As a result of the application of CST in rats of different age groups, a decrease in the value of renal API was observed with a maximum in immature rats - after 7 days, in mature and old rats - after 14 days. By day 28, the index increased in all experimental groups, but did not reach the control level. The degree of decrease in renal API in old rats under the influence of CCT was significantly higher than in other experimental groups. In immature rats, the impairment of renal API after the application of CST was less, indicating higher reserve capacity of the renal antioxidant defence system in this age group of rats.

CONCLUSION

Conclusions: Simulation of CST in rats of different age groups is accompanied by a decrease in the value of API, which by day 28 does not reach the control level in any of the experimental groups. The degree of decrease in renal API value statistically significantly increases with increasing age of rats at all times of the post-traumatic period.

Elevated C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio with fever is a predictor of poor functional outcome in patients with mild traumatic brain injury

Introduction

The C-reactive protein -to-albumin ratio (CAR), a novel inflammation-based prognostic score, is useful in predicting clinical outcomes, including those in central nervous system diseases. However, no report has identified the relationship between CAR and long-term clinical outcomes in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We aimed to evaluate the relationship between CAR and long-term functional outcomes in patients with mTBI and analyze whether CAR is associated with the presence of fever.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study includes 387 adult patients with mTBI who were treated at a level-1 trauma center between 2017 and 2021. The main exposure variable was an elevated CAR, and the main outcomes were degrees of disability and quality of life measured using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). A multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the effect size of CAR on study outcomes. An interaction analysis was performed between CAR and fever on study outcomes.

Results

Elevated CAR had no significant association with poor functional outcomes (aOR [95% CI]: 1.35 [0.39-4.69]) in patients with mTBI. In the interaction analysis, elevated CAR was not associated with increased poor functional outcomes in the absence of fever (1.08 [0.55-2.13]), but a significant increase in poor functional outcomes was observed when elevated CAR was accompanied by fever (1.32 [1.14-2.56)).

Conclusions

Elevated CAR with fever increased the risk of poor functional recovery at 6 months after hospital discharge in patients with mTBI. Our study findings suggest the need for strategies for the prevention of long-term poor functional recovery in the presence of high CAR and fever in patients with mTBI.

Erythropoietin in Acute Kidney Injury (EAKI): a pragmatic randomized clinical trial

Background

Treatment with erythropoietin is well established for anemia in chronic kidney disease patients but not well studied in acute kidney injury.

Methods

This is a multicenter, randomized, pragmatic controlled clinical trial. It included 134 hospitalized patients with anemia defined as hemoglobin < 11 g/dL and acute kidney injury defined as an increase of serum creatinine of ≥ 0.3 mg/dL within 48 h or 1.5 times baseline. One arm received recombinant human erythropoietin 4000 UI subcutaneously every other day (intervention; n = 67) and the second received standard of care (control; n = 67) during the hospitalization until discharge or death. The primary outcome was the need for transfusion; secondary outcomes were death, renal recovery, need for dialysis.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in transfusion need (RR = 1.05, 95%CI 0.65,1.68; p = 0.855), in renal recovery full or partial (RR = 0.96, 95%CI 0.81,1.15; p = 0.671), in need for dialysis (RR = 11.00, 95%CI 0.62, 195.08; p = 0.102) or in death (RR = 1.43, 95%CI 0.58,3.53; p = 0.440) between the erythropoietin and the control group.

Conclusions

Erythropoietin treatment had no impact on transfusions, renal recovery or mortality in acute kidney injury patients with anemia.

The trial was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03401710, 17/01/2018).

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12882-022-02727-5.

Disruption of Kidney-Immune System Crosstalk in Sepsis with Acute Kidney Injury: Lessons Learned from Animal Models and Their Application to Human Health

In addition to being a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, sepsis is also the most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). When sepsis leads to the development of AKI, mortality increases dramatically. Since the cardinal feature of sepsis is a dysregulated host response to infection, a disruption of kidney-immune crosstalk is likely to be contributing to worsening prognosis in sepsis with acute kidney injury. Since immune-mediated injury to the kidney could disrupt its protein manufacturing capacity, an investigation of molecules mediating this crosstalk not only helps us understand the sepsis immune response, but also suggests that their supplementation could have a therapeutic effect. Erythropoietin, vitamin D and uromodulin are known to mediate kidney-immune crosstalk and their disrupted production could impact morbidity and mortality in sepsis with acute kidney injury.

A nomogram based on serum cystatin C for predicting acute kidney injury in patients with traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients and is associated with unfavorable outcome of these patients. We designed this study to explore the value of serum cystatin C, an indicator of renal function, on predicting AKI after suffering TBI.

METHODS

Patients confirmed with TBI and hospitalized in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2015 and December 2019 were included. Patients were divided into two groups according to occurrence of AKI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were sequentially utilized to find risk factors of AKI in included TBI patients. Nomogram composed of discovered risk factors for predicting AKI was constructed. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves were drawn and area under the ROC curve (AUC) were calculated to evaluate the predictive value of cystatin C alone and the constructed nomogram.

RESULTS

Among 234 included TBI patients, 55 were divided into AKI group. AKI group had shorter length of stay (p < 0.001) and higher in-hospital mortality (p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed absolute lymphocyte count (p = 0.034), serum creatinine (p < 0.001), serum cystatin C (p = 0.017) and transfusion of red blood cell (p = 0.005) were independently associated with development of AKI after TBI. While hypertonic saline use was not associated with the development of AKI (p = 0.067). The AUC of single cystatin C and predictive nomogram were 0.804 and 0.925, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Higher serum cystatin C is associated with development of AKI in TBI patients. Predictive nomogram incorporating cystatin C is beneficial for physicians to evaluate possibilities of AKI and consequently adjust treatment strategies to avoid occurrence of AKI.

Multiorgan Dysfunction After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Epidemiology, Mechanisms, and Clinical Management

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major global health problem and a major contributor to morbidity and mortality following multisystem trauma. Extracranial organ dysfunction is common after severe TBI and significantly impacts clinical care and outcomes following injury. Despite this, extracranial organ dysfunction remains an understudied topic compared with organ dysfunction in other critical care paradigms. In this review, we will: 1) summarize the epidemiology of extracranial multiorgan dysfunction following severe TBI; 2) examine relevant mechanisms that may be involved in the development of multi-organ dysfunction following severe TBI; and 3) discuss clinical management strategies to care for these complex patients.

Erythropoietin Protects against Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in Mice by Regulating Macrophage Polarization through the EPOR/JAK2/STAT3 Axis

Macrophages play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus-associated diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH). The immunomodulation of macrophage responses might be a potential approach for the prevention and treatment of DAH. Erythropoietin (EPO) could regulate macrophage bioactivities by binding to the EPO receptor expressing on macrophages. This study assessed the effects of EPO on DAH protection using an immune-mediated DAH murine model with macrophages as the major contributor. A DAH murine model was established in female C57BL/6 mice by an i.p. injection of pristane. We found that EPO administration alleviates DAH by reducing pulmonary macrophages recruitment and promoting phenotype switch toward M2 macrophages in vivo. EPO drove macrophages to the anti-inflammatory phenotype in the primary murine bone marrow-derived macrophages and macrophages cell line RAW 264.7 with LPS, IFN-γ, and IL-4 in vitro. Moreover, EPO treatment increases the expression of EPOR and decreases the expression of miR-494-3p, resulting in increased phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT3. In conclusion, EPO can be a potential therapeutic agent in DAH by reducing cell apoptosis and regulating macrophage polarization through the EPOR/JAK2/STAT3 axis. Further studies are also needed to validate the direct target of miR-494-3p in regulating JAK2/STAT3 signaling transduction.

Beyond the Brain: Peripheral Interactions after Traumatic Brain Injury

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability, and there are currently no pharmacological treatments known to improve patient outcomes. Unquestionably, contributing toward a lack of effective treatments is the highly complex and heterogenous nature of TBI. In this review, we highlight the recent surge of research that has demonstrated various central interactions with the periphery as a potential major contributor toward this heterogeneity and, in particular, the breadth of research from Australia. We describe the growing evidence of how extracranial factors, such as polytrauma and infection, can significantly alter TBI neuropathology. In addition, we highlight how dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system and the systemic inflammatory response induced by TBI can have profound pathophysiological effects on peripheral organs, such as the heart, lung, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney, spleen, and bone. Collectively, this review firmly establishes TBI as a systemic condition. Further, the central and peripheral interactions that can occur after TBI must be further explored and accounted for in the ongoing search for effective treatments.

Polydatin alleviates severe traumatic brain injury induced acute lung injury by inhibiting S100B mediated NETs formation

Severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI)-induced acute lung injury (sTBI-ALI) is regarded as the most common complication of sTBI that is an independent predictor of poor outcomes in patients with sTBI and strongly increases sTBI mortality. Polydatin (PD) has been shown to have a potential therapeutic effect on sTBI-induced neurons injury and sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI), therefore, it is reasonable to believe that PD has a protective effect on sTBI-ALI. Here, to clarify the PD protective effect following sTBI-ALI, a rat brain injury model of lateral fluid percussion was established to mimic sTBI. As a result, sTBI induced ALI, and caused an increasing of wet/dry weight ratio and lung vascular permeability, as well as sTBI promoted oxidative stress response in the lung; sTBI caused inflammatory cytokines release, such as IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and MCP-1; and sTBI promoted NETs formation, mainly including an increasing expression of MPO, NE and CitH3. Simultaneously, sTBI induced a significant increase in the level of S100B; however, when inhibition of S100B, the expression of MPO, NE and CITH3 were significantly inhibited following sTBI. Inhibition of S100B also promoted lung vascular permeability recovery and alleviated oxidative stress response. Furthermore, PD treatmentreduced the pathological lung damage, promoted lung vascular permeability recovery, alleviated oxidative stress response and inflammatory cytokines release; more importantly, PD inhibited the expression of S100B, and NETs formation in the lung following sTBI. These results indicate that PD alleviates sTBI-ALI by inhibiting S100B mediated NETs formation. Thus, PD may be valuable in sTBI-ALI treatment.

The Impact of Erythropoietin on Short- and Long-Term Kidney-Related Outcomes in Neonates of Extremely Low Gestational Age. Results of a Multicenter, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether extremely low gestational age neonates (ELGANs) randomized to erythropoietin have better or worse kidney-related outcomes during hospitalization and at 22-26 months of corrected gestational age (cGA) compared with those randomized to placebo.

STUDY DESIGN

We performed an ancillary study to a multicenter double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial of erythropoietin in ELGANs.

RESULTS

The prevalence of severe (stage 2 or 3) acute kidney injury (AKI) was 18.2%. We did not find a statistically significant difference between those randomized to erythropoietin vs placebo for in-hospital primary (severe AKI) or secondary outcomes (any AKI and serum creatinine/cystatin C values at days 0, 7, 9, and 14). At 22-26 months of cGA, 16% of the cohort had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <90 mL/min/1.73 m², 35.8% had urine albumin/creatinine ratio >30 mg/g, 23% had a systolic blood pressure (SBP) >95th percentile for age, and 40% had a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) >95th percentile for age. SBP >90th percentile occurred less often among recipients of erythropoietin (P < .04). This association remained even after controlling for gestational age, site, and sibship (aOR 0.6; 95% CI 0.39-0.92). We did not find statistically significant differences between treatment groups in eGFR, albumin/creatinine ratio, rates of SBP >95th percentile, or DBP >90th or >95th percentiles at the 2 year follow-up visit.

CONCLUSIONS

ELGANs have high rates of in-hospital AKI and kidney-related problems at 22-26 months of cGA. Recombinant erythropoietin may protect ELGANs against long-term elevated SBP but does not appear to protect from AKI, low eGFR, albuminuria, or elevated DBP at 22-26 months of cGA.

A Post Hoc Analysis of Osmotherapy Use in the Erythropoietin in Traumatic Brain Injury Study-Associations With Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality

OBJECTIVES

Mannitol and hypertonic saline are used to treat raised intracerebral pressure in patients with traumatic brain injury, but their possible effects on kidney function and mortality are unknown.

DESIGN

A post hoc analysis of the erythropoietin trial in traumatic brain injury (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00987454) including daily data on mannitol and hypertonic saline use.

SETTING

Twenty-nine university-affiliated teaching hospitals in seven countries.

PATIENTS

A total of 568 patients treated in the ICU for 48 hours without acute kidney injury of whom 43 (7%) received mannitol and 170 (29%) hypertonic saline.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We categorized acute kidney injury stage according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome classification and defined acute kidney injury as any Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome stage-based changes from the admission creatinine. We tested associations between early (first 2 d) mannitol and hypertonic saline and time to acute kidney injury up to ICU discharge and death up to 180 days with Cox regression analysis. Subsequently, acute kidney injury developed more often in patients receiving mannitol (35% vs 10%; p < 0.001) and hypertonic saline (23% vs 10%; p < 0.001). On competing risk analysis including factors associated with acute kidney injury, mannitol (hazard ratio, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.2-4.3; p = 0.01), but not hypertonic saline (hazard ratio, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9-2.8; p = 0.08), was independently associated with time to acute kidney injury. In a Cox model for predicting time to death, both the use of mannitol (hazard ratio, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-4.1; p = 0.03) and hypertonic saline (hazard ratio, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.02-3.2; p = 0.04) were associated with time to death.

CONCLUSIONS

In this post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial, the early use of mannitol, but not hypertonic saline, was independently associated with an increase in acute kidney injury. Our findings suggest the need to further evaluate the use and choice of osmotherapy in traumatic brain injury.

Association of Severe Acute Kidney Injury with Mortality and Healthcare Utilization Following Isolated Traumatic Brain Injury

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of morbidity, mortality, and disability in the USA. While cardiopulmonary dysfunction can result in poor outcomes following severe TBI, the impact of acute kidney injury (AKI) is poorly understood. We examined the association of severe AKI with hospital mortality and healthcare utilization following isolate severe TBI.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2014. We identified a cohort of adult patients with isolated severe TBI and described the incidence of severe AKI, corresponding to Acute Kidney Injury Network stage 3 disease or greater. We examined the association of severe AKI with the primary outcome of hospital mortality using multivariable logistic regression models. In secondary analyses, we examined the association of severe AKI with dialysis catheter placement, tracheostomy and gastrostomy utilization, and hospital length of stay.

RESULTS

There were 37,851 patients who experienced isolated severe TBI during the study period. Among these patients, 787 (2.1%) experienced severe (Stage 3 or greater) AKI. In multivariable models, the development of severe AKI in the hospital was associated with in-hospital mortality (OR 2.03, 95% CI 1.64-2.52), need for tracheostomy (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.52-2.89), PEG tube placement (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.45-2.45), and increased hospital length of stay (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall incidence of severe AKI is relatively low (2.1%), but is associated with increased mortality and multiple markers of increased healthcare utilization following severe TBI.

The Predictive Value of Serum Uric Acid on Acute Kidney Injury following Traumatic Brain Injury

Backgrounds

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent nonneurological complication in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). We designed this study to explore the association between serum uric acid (SUA) level and the occurrence of AKI following TBI.

Methods

This is a retrospective single-center study. A total of 479 patients admitted with TBI were included in this study. We utilized SUA and other risk factors for AKI to construct a predictive model by performing multivariate logistic regression. 374 patients and 105 patients were, respectively, divided into a training set and validation set. The predictive value of the single SUA and constructed model was evaluated by drawing a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. AKI was diagnosed according to the KIDGO criteria.

Results

79 (21.12%) patients were diagnosed with AKI in the training cohort. The patients in the AKI group are older than those in the non-AKI group (p = 0.01). And the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of the AKI group was lower than that of the non-AKI group (p < 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, we found that heart rate (p = 0.041), shock (p = 0.018), serum creatinine (p < 0.001), and serum uric acid (SUA) (p < 0.001) were significant risk factors for AKI. Bivariate correlation analyses showed that serum creatinine was moderately positively correlated with SUA (r = 0.523, p < 0.001). Finally, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of SUA for predicting AKI in the training set and validation set was 0.850 (0.805-0.895) and 0.869 (0.801-0.938), respectively.

Conclusions

SUA is an effective risk factor for AKI following TBI. Combining SUA with serum creatinine could more accurately identify TBI patients with high risk of developing AKI.

The predictive value of RDW in AKI and mortality in patients with traumatic brain injury

Background

Red blood cell distribution width (RDW) has been validated valuable in predicting outcome and acute kidney injury (AKI) in several clinical settings. The aim of this study was to explore whether RDW is associated with outcome and AKI in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Methods

Patients admitted to our hospital for TBI from January 2015 to August 2018 were included in this study. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors of AKI and outcome in patients with TBI. The value of RDW in predicting AKI and outcome was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve.

Results

Three hundred and eighteen patients were included in this study. The median of RDW was 14.25%. We divided subjects into two groups based on the median and compared difference of variables between two groups. The incidence of AKI and mortality was higher in high RDW (RDW > 14.25) group (31.45% vs 9.43%, P < .001; 69.81% vs 29.56%, P < .001). Spearman's method showed RDW was moderately associated with 90‐day Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) (P < .001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, RDW, lymphocyte, chlorine, and serum creatinine were risk factors of AKI. And Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), glucose, chlorine, AKI, and RDW were risk factors of mortality. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of RDW for predicting AKI and mortality was 0.724 (0.662‐0.786) and 0.754 (0.701‐0.807), respectively. Patients with higher RDW were likely to have shorter median survival time (58 vs 70, P < .001).

Conclusions

Red blood cell distribution width is an independent risk factor of AKI and mortality in patients with TBI.

CRP Albumin ratio is positively associated with poor outcome in patients with traumatic brain injury

OBJECTIVES

The C-reactive protein/albumin ratio (CAR), a novel inflammation-based index, has been proved useful in predicting outcome of various diseases. We designed this study to explore the prognostic value of CAR in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively included 151 patients diagnosed with TBI and collected related clinical and laboratory data. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to find independent risk factors of mortality. Then, we incorporated CAR into prognostic model and drew receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of models. Finally, we compared the predictive value of different models by evaluating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC).

RESULTS

In this study, a total of 54 patients had poor survival outcome with mortality rate of 35.8 %. Results of multivariate analysis showed that GCS score in admission (OR 0.700, 95 %Cl 0.570-0.860, p=0.001), acute kidney injury (AKI) (OR 3.952, 95Cl 1.631-9.577, p=0.002) and CAR (OR 1.202, 95Cl 1.039-1.390, p=0.013) were independently associated with in-hospital mortality. The AUC value of predictive model composed of the above three factors was higher than GCS or CAR alone.

CONCLUSION

CAR is an independent risk factor of mortality in patients with TBI. Incorporating CAR into predictive model could increase the value in predicting outcome of TBI patients.

Meta-Analysis with Trial Sequential Analysis on the Efficacy and Safety of Erythropoietin in Traumatic Brain Injury: A New Paradigm

OBJECTIVE

Erythropoietin (EPO) has been shown to be beneficial in traumatic brain injury (TBI). We have attempted to quantitatively synthesize the findings of current randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in this meta-analysis and analyzed the need for further trials using trial sequential analysis (TSA).

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in PubMed, the Cochrane Library databases, and Google Scholar for RCTs until December 2019 evaluating the role of EPO in patients with TBI. Seven RCTs were finally included in the quantitative analysis. TSA was done to evaluate the need for further studies.

RESULTS

The pooled estimate demonstrated that EPO significantly reduced mortality at 6 months (odds ratio [OR], 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.97; P = 0.04) but not in hospital mortality (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.31-2.32; P = 0.74). There was no significant difference in the rate of favorable outcomes with EPO (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 0.84-2.99; P = 0.16). The rate of deep vein thrombosis (RD, -0.02; 95% CI, -0.06 to 0.02; P =0.41) was also not found to be significantly different in the 2 groups. TSA showed that the accrued information is insufficient to make any definitive conclusions.

CONCLUSIONS

EPO seems to be beneficial in terms of reducing 6-month mortality, however, its effect on in-hospital mortality, neurologic outcomes, and risk of deep vein thrombosis fails to reach statistical significance. TSA suggests a need for large trials to evaluate the role of EPO in patients with TBI in a more systematic way.

Serum Procalcitonin Level Predicts Acute Kidney Injury After Traumatic Brain Injury

BACKGROUND

A common non-neurologic complication after traumatic brain injury (TBI), acute kidney injury (AKI) is a risk factor of mortality. Some studies confirmed the predictive value of procalcitonin (PCT) on AKI in several clinical settings. We designed this study to explore the predictive value of PCT on AKI after TBI.

METHODS

We retrospectively enrolled patients with TBI admitted to our hospital from February 2015 to June 2019. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to find the risk factors of AKI and construct a predictive model for AKI. Receiver operating characteristics curves were drawn to compare the predictive value of PCT and the constructed model.

RESULTS

A total of 214 patients were included in this study. The incidence of AKI after TBI was 25.70% in this study. Compared with the non-AKI group, the AKI group had higher age (P = 0.031), lower Glasgow Coma Scale (P < 0.001), and higher incidence of coagulopathy (P < 0.001) and shock (P < 0.001). Moreover, patients complicated with AKI had higher in-hospital mortality (P < 0.001) and worse 90-day outcome (P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age (P = 0.033), PCT (P = 0.002), serum chlorine (P = 0.011), and creatinine (P < 0.001) were independent risk factors of AKI. We constructed a predictive model using these 4 risk factors. The area under receiver operating characteristics curves of the predictive model was 0.928, which was significantly higher than that of a single PCT value (area under receiver operating characteristics curves = 0.833) (Z = 2.395, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

PCT is valuable in predicting AKI after TBI. To avoid AKI after TBI, physicians can adjust treatment strategies according to the level of PCT.

Acute kidney injury in trauma patients admitted to the ICU: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of acute kidney injury (AKI) in trauma patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

We conducted a systematic literature search of studies on AKI according to RIFLE, AKIN, or KDIGO criteria in trauma patients admitted to the ICU (PROSPERO CRD42017060420). We searched PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, UpToDate, and NICE through 3 December 2018. Data were collected on incidence of AKI, risk factors, renal replacement therapy (RRT), renal recovery, length of stay (LOS), and mortality. Pooled analyses with random effects models yielded mean differences, OR, and RR, with 95% CI.

RESULTS

Twenty-four observational studies comprising 25,182 patients were included. Study quality (Newcastle-Ottawa scale) was moderate. Study heterogeneity was substantial. Incidence of post-traumatic AKI in the ICU was 24% (20-29), of which 13% (10-16) mild, 5% (3-7) moderate, and 4% (3-6) severe AKI. Risk factors for AKI were African American descent, high age, chronic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, high Injury Severity Score, abdominal injury, shock, low Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score, high APACHE II score, and sepsis. AKI patients had 6.0 (4.0-7.9) days longer ICU LOS and increased risk of death [RR 3.4 (2.1-5.7)] compared to non-AKI patients. In patients with AKI, RRT was used in 10% (6-15). Renal recovery occurred in 96% (78-100) of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

AKI occurred in 24% of trauma patients admitted to the ICU, with an RRT use among these of 10%. Presence of AKI was associated with increased LOS and mortality, but renal recovery in AKI survivors was good.