Acute Kidney Injury: Increasing Recognition Merits More Action

Excerpt

Acute kidney injury (AKI), characterized by an abrupt decline in kidney function, may have manifestations ranging from minimal elevation of serum creatinine to oligoanuric renal failure. There is recognition that even minor short-term changes in serum creatinine concentrations are associated with increased lengths of hospital stay and mortality in admitted adult and pediatric patients [1], underscoring the need for early diagnosis of the disorder. On the long term, the risk of occurrence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant concern. While the prevalence of AKI varies according to the definition used, the condition is common in developing as well as developed countries. While most reports on the incidence of AKI in children are limited to developed countries; prospective information on the occurrence and outcomes of AKI in children from developing regions are lacking. …