Octavi Bassegoda1, Patricia Huelin1, Xavier Ariza2, Cristina Solé1, Adrià Juanola1, Jordi Gratacós-Ginès1, Marta Carol3, Isabel Graupera1, Elisa Pose1, Laura Napoleone1, Sonia Albertos1, Gloria de Prada1, Marta Cervera3, Javier Fernández1, Núria Fabrellas3, Esteban Poch4, Elsa Solà5, Pere Ginès6. 1. Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEReHD), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. 2. Digestive Diseases Unit, Hospital Moisès Broggi, Sant Joan Despí, Catalonia, Spain. 3. Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEReHD), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. 4. Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Nephrology Unit, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. 5. Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEReHD), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. 6. Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBEReHD), Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain; Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Electronic address: pgines@clinic.cat.
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in cirrhosis and is associated with poor prognosis. In patients who survive after AKI, it is not known whether the acute injury leads to chronic impairment of kidney function (chronic kidney disease [CKD]). The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of CKD at 3 months after an AKI episode and its effects on patient outcomes. METHODS: Patients admitted for complications of cirrhosis during a 6.5-year period were evaluated using the same protocol, with assessment of kidney function at regular intervals during and after hospitalization. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73m2 at 3 months after AKI. RESULTS: A total of 409 patients (168 with AKI and 241 without AKI) were included. After 3 months, 97 patients with AKI and 188 patients without AKI had survived. Of the 97 patients with AKI, 24 had developed CKD at 3 months compared to only 2 of the 188 patients without AKI (25% vs. 1%, odds ratio 31; p <0.0001). Risk factors independently associated with CKD were nosocomial AKI and severity of AKI (stage ≥1B). At diagnosis of CKD, all patients had stage 3A CKD and one-quarter of them progressed to stages 3B and 4 after 1 year. The transition from AKI to CKD was associated with an increased rate of 3-month hospital readmission, increased frequency of AKI, bacterial infections, ascites, and refractory ascites and a trend towards a higher need for liver transplantation. Transplant-free survival was not impaired. CONCLUSIONS: CKD frequently develops in patients with cirrhosis who survive AKI and has a negative impact on relevant clinical outcomes. The transition from AKI to CKD is common and should be considered a high-risk condition in patients with cirrhosis. LAY SUMMARY: Episodes of acute impairment of kidney function are common in patients with cirrhosis. This study shows that the development of chronic impairment of kidney function is frequent in patients surviving these acute episodes and that it is associated with a higher risk of developing other complications of cirrhosis and to a higher rate of 3-month hospital readmissions.
BACKGROUND & AIMS:Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in cirrhosis and is associated with poor prognosis. In patients who survive after AKI, it is not known whether the acute injury leads to chronic impairment of kidney function (chronic kidney disease [CKD]). The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of CKD at 3 months after an AKI episode and its effects on patient outcomes. METHODS:Patients admitted for complications of cirrhosis during a 6.5-year period were evaluated using the same protocol, with assessment of kidney function at regular intervals during and after hospitalization. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73m2 at 3 months after AKI. RESULTS: A total of 409 patients (168 with AKI and 241 without AKI) were included. After 3 months, 97 patients with AKI and 188 patients without AKI had survived. Of the 97 patients with AKI, 24 had developed CKD at 3 months compared to only 2 of the 188 patients without AKI (25% vs. 1%, odds ratio 31; p <0.0001). Risk factors independently associated with CKD were nosocomial AKI and severity of AKI (stage ≥1B). At diagnosis of CKD, all patients had stage 3A CKD and one-quarter of them progressed to stages 3B and 4 after 1 year. The transition from AKI to CKD was associated with an increased rate of 3-month hospital readmission, increased frequency of AKI, bacterial infections, ascites, and refractory ascites and a trend towards a higher need for liver transplantation. Transplant-free survival was not impaired. CONCLUSIONS: CKD frequently develops in patients with cirrhosis who survive AKI and has a negative impact on relevant clinical outcomes. The transition from AKI to CKD is common and should be considered a high-risk condition in patients with cirrhosis. LAY SUMMARY: Episodes of acute impairment of kidney function are common in patients with cirrhosis. This study shows that the development of chronic impairment of kidney function is frequent in patients surviving these acute episodes and that it is associated with a higher risk of developing other complications of cirrhosis and to a higher rate of 3-month hospital readmissions.