Spectrum of Acute Renal Failure and Factors Predicting Its Outcome in an Intensive Care Unit in India

Identification of factors causing acute renal failure (ARF) and its associated poor prognosis in critically ill patients can help in planning strategies to prevent ARF and to prioritize the utilization of sparse and expensive therapeutic modalities. Most of the studies in such patients have been done in the developed world, and similar data from the developing world is sparse.

We analyzed 45 consecutive patients who developed ARF in the intensive care unit (ICU) during a 12-month period. Demographic and detailed biochemical profile, previous chronic illness, precipitating factors, number of failed organs, type of ARF (oliguric/nonoliguric), and need for and type of renal replacement therapy (RRT) received were recorded at the time of admission to ICU and during the course of illness. The mean age of these patients was 43.1 years, with 75.6% being males. Hypotension, sepsis, and use of nephrotoxic drugs were common precipitating factors for ARF in these patients. However, multiple precipitating factors were present in the majority (80%): 81.5% had at least one organ failure prior to development of ARF, 71.1% had oliguria, and 71.1% required RRT. Intermittent hemodialysis was the most common form of RRT given. Patient mortality was 64.4%, with 15 of the 16 surviving patients becoming dialysis independent. We observed an increase in mortality from 0% to 100%, depending on the number of failed organs from one to six. On comparing the predictor outcomes between survivors and nonsurvivors by multivariate analysis, only the number of failed organs at the time of ARF (2.6 ± 0.9 vs. 4.5 ± 0.8) and serum albumin <3.0 g/dL were found to be statistically significant.

To conclude, ARF in critically ill patients is multifactorial in origin and carries a high mortality. Mortality in these patients increases with increasing numbers of failed organs and with a serum albumin of <3.0 g/dL.     

Treatment of Acute Renal Failure in the Intensive Care Unit: Lower Costs by Intermittent Dialysis Than Continuous Venovenous Hemodiafiltration

Intermittent and continuous renal replacement therapies (RRTs) are available for the treatment of acute renal failure (ARF) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Although at present there are no adequately powered survival studies, available data suggest that both methods are equal with respect to patient outcome. Therefore, cost comparison between techniques is important for selecting the modality. Expenditures were prospectively assessed as a secondary end point during a controlled, randomized trial comparing intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration (CVVHDF). The outcome of the primary end points of this trial, that is, ICU and in-hospital mortality, has been previously published. One hundred twenty-five patients from a Swiss university hospital ICU were randomized either to CVVHDF or IHD. Out of these, 42 (CVVHDF) and 34 (IHD) were available for cost analysis. Patients' characteristics, delivered dialysis dose, duration of stay in the ICU or hospital, mortality rates, and recovery of renal function were not different between the two groups. Detailed 24-h time and material consumption protocols were available for 369 (CVVHDF) and 195 (IHD) treatment days. The mean daily duration of CVVHDF was 19.5 ± 3.2 h/day, resulting in total expenditures of €436 ± 21 (21% for human resources and 79% for technical devices). For IHD (mean 3.0 ±  0.4 h/treatment), the costs were lower (€268 ± 26), with a larger proportion for human resources (45%). Nursing time spent for CVVHDF was 113 ± 50 min, and 198 ± 63 min per IHD treatment. Total costs for RRT in ICU patients with ARF were lower when treated with IHD than with CVVHDF, and have to be taken into account for the selection of the method of RRT in ARF on the ICU.     

Strategies for the Treatment of Acute Renal Failure in Intensive Care Units: The Aspect of Dosing

Despite all the medical progress, the mortality rate in intensive care units for patients with acute renal failure (ARF) remains high, among specific patient populations, up to 88% [Letourneau I, Dorval M, Belanger R, Legare M, Fortier L, Leblanc M. Acute renal failure in bone marrow transplant patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Nephron Apr 2002; 90(4), 408–12.]. Recent trial results indicate that patient survival may be improved by adequate renal replacement therapy. In particular, the dose of intermittent and continuous renal replacement therapies has proved to be a significant factor affecting patient survival. Daily intermittent hemodialysis, e.g., is superior to alternate‐day intermittent hemodialysis, and with continuous therapies, survival is related to the filtration rate. Further relevant factors include early initiation of renal replacement therapy, choice of biocompatible membranes and the application of bicarbonate‐buffered replacement solutions for defined patient groups. The advantages offered by continuous techniques could be demonstrated for individual patient groups; in meta‐analyses, advantages were shown for the total population of patients with ARF. Other than for patients with chronic renal failure (NKF—DOQI. Clinical practice guidelines for hemodialysis adequacy. Am J Kid Dis 1997; Vol. 30, 515–566.), there are no current clinical guidelines for a standard treatment of intensive care patients with ARF. Therefore, such a treatment standard still needs to be determined.     

Acute Renal Failure in Polytraumatized Patients: Prediction of Outcome

Prediction of outcome of acute renal failure (ARF), particularly inpatients with multisystem organ failure (MSOF), is a very important issue and a very difficult task. In patients with ARF as a consequence of severe polytrauma, frequent complications (e.g., sepsis, respiratory insufficiency, DIC, hepatic insufficiency, etc.) contribute to a hyperbolic state, and in the case of synergistic action, they start the mechanism of MSOF. In 33 patients (1 female, 32 male, 38.61 ± 8.79 years) with severe polytrauma acquired in war combat, ARF developed requiring hemodialysis (HD) treatment. Seventeen out of 33 (51.4%) recovered renal function. In 12 out of 33 patients, MSOF occurred with less successful recovery results. The analysis of pathophysiologic mechanisms of MSOF appearance and ARF outcome has shown the importance of blast injuries, bowel injury, respiratory insufficiency requiring assisted ventilation, and sepsis. Although severe hemorrhage and shock are the common mechanism of ARF appearance in these patients, it seems that wounds by themselves can be of great importance, as abdominal wounds are more frequently associated with ARF and MSOF than in other types.     

An Improvement in the Outcome of Acute Renal Failure

Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) requiring hemodialysis (HD) treatment is related to high mortality. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of age, disease severity, and catabolism intensity on ARF outcome in patients requiring HD treatment during a 15‐year period (1987–2001). Methods: The retrospective, single‐center study included 583 patients, 428 male, 155 female, age 49 ± 15 years, treated by intermittent HD using cuprophane membranes with surface area of 1.3 m². Liano's Acute Tubular Necrosis Individual Severity Score (ATNISS) score and Hypercatabolism Depuration Score (HDS) score were calculated to estimate disease severity and catabolism intensity in ARF patients. Results: Average age of patients significantly increased during the 15‐year period for more than one decade (44 to 55 years; p = 0.0359), especially during the last five‐year period (47 ± 14.5 vs. 53 ± 14.7, p = 0.00015). Disease severity showed significant increase comparing periods 1992–1996 and 1997–2001 (ATNISS 0.385 ± 0.197 vs. 0.437 ± 0.208; p = 0.00137), while catabolism intensity during these periods was similar (HDS 0.569 ± 0.145 vs. 0.582 ± 0.127; p = 0.357). Despite the older and more severely ill population of ARF patients, mortality showed a sustained decrease during the 15‐year period. Mortality in the period from 1987 to 1991 (49/83; 59%) was similar with the period 1992–1996 (χ² = 0.44, p = 0.5081), but significantly higher than in the period 1997–2001 (114/250; 45.6%; χ² = 3.98, p = 0.0471). Conclusion: The results showed an improvement in the outcome of patients with ARF requiring HD treatment, despite increasing age, disease severity, and use of bioincompatible membranes.     

Acute Renal Failure as a Complication of Acute Pancreatitis

To assess the prevalence of acute renal failure (ARF) inpatients with acute pancreatitis, as well as the factors predictive of a lethal outcome, we retrospectively studied the data of all patients admitted to our hospital over a 5-year period. Between 1989 and 1993, 554 patients presented with acute pancreatitis, of which 24 (4.4%) subsequently developed ARF. Death occurred in 14/24 (58%) of patients with ARF, and was associated with an increased incidence of multiorgan failure. There was no statistically significant difference in the age, admission blood pressure, or admission pulse rate of the patients who survived and those who died. In contrast, death was associated with a higher Ranson score, and the increased prevalence of multiorgan failure. The length of hospitalization of the nonsurviving group was significantly shorter. Acute renal failure is not a common finding in patients with acute pancreatitis. However, when it occurs, it is associated with a poor prognosis, and is predicted by a higher Ranson score and the presence of multiorgan failure.     

Snakebite-induced acute renal failure

Snakebite is not an uncommon cause of acute renal failure (ARF) in developing countries. We report a12-year-old boy who presented with oliguric ARF following snakebite. He had pallor, icterus, generalized edema, hypertension, and was oliguric. Investigations revealed severe azotemia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, prolonged coagulation parameters, and raised fibrin degradation products, suggesting disseminated intravascular coagulation as the cause of ARF. The patient improved with antisnake venom, dialysis, and other supportive treatment.     

Acute Renal Failure Complicating Severe Acute Pancreatitis

The records of 563 patients admitted to the hospital with diagnosis of acute pancreatitis have been studied retrospectively. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of acute renal failure (ARF) in these patients, and to evaluate the most important risk factors for ARF development and mortality. The prevalence of ARF in studied population was 14%, but only 3.8% of ARF patients with acute pancreatitis had isolated renal failure. Other patients had additional failure of other organ systems, 68.4% of whom had multiorgan failure (MOF) before the onset of ARF. In only 8.9% of ARF patients was the renal system the first organ system to fail. Patients with ARF were significantly older, had more preexisting chronic diseases (including chronic renal failure), usually had MOF, and local pancreatic complications relative to these in the group with normal renal function. The development of ARF was directly influenced by severity of acute pancreatitis. The mortality rate in ARF patients was 74.7%, compared to an 7.4% mortality of patients with acute pancreatitis and normal renal function. Preexisting chronic disease, the presence of MOF and their number, local pancreatic complications, and older age of the patients increased mortality in ARF patients. The prognosis of patients with oliguric ARF requiring renal replacement therapy was extremely poor, indicating the importance of prevention of ARF in the patients with acute pancreatitis.     

Mortality in Elderly Patients with Acute Renal Failure

In a retrospective study, we identified 55 elderly patients with acute renal failure (ARF) admitted to our hospital during an 8-year period from 1985 to 1993. Information about the etiology, complications, laboratory data, and treatment course were obtained from the clinical history. Of the 200 patients with ARF admitted to the hospital during this period, 28% were patients more than 60 years old (41 male and 14 female) with an average age of 68.5 ± 7 years. The main causes of ARF were sepsis, volume depletion, low cardiac output, arterial hypotension, nephrotoxicity by antibiotics, and obstructive uropathy. The global mortality of elderly patients with ARF was 53%. The mortality rate of the different types of the ARF were: prerenal 35%, intrinsic 64% (oliguric 76%, nonoliguric 50%), and postrenal 40%. Mortality as a result of sepsis occurred in 18 patients (62%), by cardiovascular disease in 4 patients (13%), by acute respiratory failure in 2 patients (7%), and by other causes in 5 patients (18%). In the cases of sepsis, Pseudomonas was detected in 7 cases (39%), Escherichia coli in 2 cases (11%), Gram-negative nonspecific in 3 cases (17%), Klebsiella in 1 case (5%), and in 5 cases (16%), the hemoculture was negative. The patient survival rate was 47% (26 of 55 patients). Of these patients, 19 recovered their normal renal function (73%), but 7 patients remained with renal failure (27%). In conclusion, the global mortality in the elderly patients without considering the types of ARF was 53%. The oliguric form had the highest mortality rate with 76%. The main causes for mortality were sepsis with 62%, cardiovascular disease with 13%, and other causes 18%.     

Acute Renal Failure in Severe Hypothermia

A patient who developed acute renal failure associated with severe hypothermia is reported. Warm peritoneal dialysis was initiated for core rewarming followed by intermittent hemodialysis till he entered the diuretic phase. The factors which led to acute renal failure in this patient included hypovolemia, hypotension, and acute pancreatitis.     

Risk Factors for Development of Acute Renal Failure After Liver Transplantation

Background.?Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common complication after liver transplantation (LTx). Identification of risk factors may prevent the development and attenuate the impact of ARF on patients outcome after LTX. Methods.?Retrospective analysis of variables in the pre, intra, and postoperative periods of 92 patients submitted to LTx was performed in order to identify risk factors for development of ARF after LTx. ARF was defined as serum creatinine ≥2.0 mg/dL in the first 30 days after LTx. Univariate and multivariate analysis by logistic regression were performed. Results.?ARF group comprised 56 patients (61%). Preoperative serum creatinine was higher in ARF group. During the intraoperative period, ARF group required more blood transfusions, developed more episodes of hypotension and presented longer anesthesia time. In the postoperative period, ARF group presented higher serum bilirubin and more episodes of hypotension. Dialysis was required in 10 patients (11%). The identified risk factors for development of ARF were: preoperative serum creatinine >1.0 mg/dL, more than five blood transfusions in the intraoperative period, hypotension during intra and postoperative periods. The identified mortality risk factors were hypotension in the postoperative period and no recovery of renal function after 30 days. Conclusions.?Several factors are involved in the pathogenesis of ARF after LTx and may influence patients outcome and mortality. Pretransplant renal function and hemodynamic conditions in the operative and postoperative periods were identified as risk factors for development of ARF after LTx. Nonrenal function recovery and postoperative hypotension were identified as mortality risk factors after LTx.     

Acetate-Free Biofiltration in Acute Renal Failure

Abstract: Hemodialysis treatment for acute renal failure is associated with a high incidence of adverse reactions. Hemodynamic stability and adequate correction of acid-base and hydroelectrolyte imbalance are the main goals of dialytic strategy in acute renal failure. However, the variety of etiology and the diversity of clinical conditions suggest that individualized treatment may be advisable. To this purpose, in 26 patients suffering from "isolated" acute renal failure of different etiologies, we have used acetate-free biofiltration. We have performed 411 dialyses with an extremely low incidence of symptomatic treatments and remarkable cardiovascular stability. Correction of fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base imbalance proved excellent. Dialytic efficacy proved adequate. Our data show that acetate-free biofiltration is an easy technique suitable for individualized treatment and adaptable to changing needs during hemodialysis in patients with isolated acute renal failure.     

横纹肌溶解致急性肾衰竭3例报告及文献复习

目的：探讨横纹肌溶解致急性肾衰竭的发病机制及有效的治疗方法。方法：分析报道典型的横纹肌溶解导致急性肾衰竭3例患者,并作文献复习。结果：患者均为男性,平均年龄33,3岁,2例大量饮酒（其中1例同时注射海洛因）后,另1例由于一氧化碳中毒。有长时间昏睡史,血压偏低。其中有1例患者的肾活检病理报告：急性肾小管坏死,肾小管内存在大量蛋白栓子;免疫组化证实为肌红蛋白。3例患者入院时均无尿,高钾血症,重度酸中毒,所以予以血液透析及对症治疗,痊愈出院。结论：虽然尿中检测到肌红蛋白是诊断横纹肌溶解的“金标准”,但我们认为肾穿刺活检免疫组化证明肾小管内肌红蛋白栓子可作为诊断横纹肌溶解引起急性肾小管坏死更直接证据。酗酒加注射毒品后引起肌溶解急性肾衰竭的病情较重且复杂,早期血液透析治疗可以减少死亡率。     

Donor Calculi Induced Acute Renal Failure

Nephrolithiasis is an infrequent complication following renal transplantation and acquisition of a stone with the donor kidney is rare. Indeed only a few cases of donor stones causing renal failure have been reported. Since the grafted kidney is denervated, stone disease may not present with the classic renal colic but rather with acute renal failure secondary to the obstruction. Identification of the precise cause is critical in order to avoid inappropriate therapy. We present our experience of two renal transplant patients who developed obstructive uropathy by stones originating from the donor kidneys.

Each atom of that stone, each mineral flake of that night filled mountain, in itself forms a world.

—Albert Camus (The myth of Sisyphus)     

Causes and Prognosis of Acute Renal Failure in Elderly Patients

In this retrospective study, 287 patients with acute renal failureobserved between 1980 and 1985 were divided into 2 groups, accordingto age: group 1 of 65 years or more (n = 100) and group 2 between17 and 64 years (n = 187). In both age groups the whole spectrumof causes of acute renal failure was found, but within thatspectrum a higher incidence of post-renal failure, acute renalvascular disease and of hypovolaemic acute renal failure wasnoted in group 1 versus group 2. On the other hand, pigment-inducedacute renal failure was lower in group 1 (4%) versus group 2(13%). The overall survival was 54% in the elderly versus 56% in theyounger patients (NS). A close relationship between survivaland the number of postadmission complications was found in bothgroups. Interestingly, the presence of severe hypokalaemia (<3.5mmmol/l) and metabolic alkalosis (plasma HCO₃>30 mmol/l)was associated with a very high mortality of 73% and 86% respectivelyin the elderly patients. Complete or incomplete recovery ofrenal function was the same in both age groups. It is concludedthat age alone should not be used as a discriminating factorin therapeutic decisions concerning acute renal failure in anolder patient.     

促红细胞生成素对横纹肌溶解大鼠急性肾衰竭的肾脏保护作用

目的：观察促红细胞生成素（EPO）能否减轻横纹肌溶解引起的急性肾衰竭（ARF）大鼠肾损伤程度并探讨机制。方法：重200g左右SD大鼠48只,禁水14h后分4组,正常对照组：两后腿肌肉注射生理盐水10ml/kg;ARF组：两后腿肌肉内注射50%甘油（10ml/kg）;EPO立即干预组：肌肉注射50%甘油的同时腹腔注射EPO2000μg/kg,12h后重复1次;EPO延迟干预组：在肌肉注射甘油6h后注射EPO2000μg/kg,12h重复1次。观察各组尿量、肾功能和肾组织病理变化。结果：与ARF组相比,EPO立即干预组和延迟干预组血尿素氮、血肌酐浓度均明显降低,ATN评分下降（P〈0.05）。肌肉注射甘油的3组大鼠24h肾组织中均存在明显的小管细胞凋亡,EPO干预组凋亡情况减轻;肌肉注射甘油的大鼠肾组织抗凋亡因子Bcl-XL的蛋白质表达比正常对照组增加,EPO立即干预和延迟干预组增加更加明显。结论：立即注射和延迟6h注射EPO均可减轻甘油诱导的横纹肌溶解性大鼠急性肾损伤。     

肾活检在老年急性肾衰竭临床应用的探讨

目的：探讨肾活检术对老年急性肾衰竭的应用价值,提高老年急性肾衰竭的诊治水平。方法：66例不明原因老年急性肾衰竭均行实时超声引导肾自动穿刺活检术,分析其成功率、并发症,总结肾活检后诊断和治疗的修正率。结果：66例肾活检取材均成功;其中取材不良4例（6.1%）,取材良好62例（93.9%）;3例出现轻度并发症（4.5%）,其中肉眼血尿2例,肾周血肿1例,未出现严重并发症;66例中病因误诊19例,26例治疗方案有较大调整。结论：老年急性肾衰竭患者行经皮肾脏穿刺活检术安全且成功率高;相当部分老年急性肾衰竭病因被误诊,对不明原因老年急性肾衰竭应及时行肾活检术,以免延误诊治。     

Acute Oxalate Nephropathy: A New Etiology for Acute Renal Failure Following Nonrenal Solid Organ Transplantation

Acute renal insufficiency (ARI) is a frequent complication of nonrenal solid organ transplantation and may be responsible for an unfavorable outcome, particularly if dialysis is required. The etiology of post-transplantation ARI is poorly understood, with only isolated clinical cases being reported, most imputed to drug toxicity. We report here, the first three observations of irreversible ARI associated with acute oxalate nephropathy (AON) in the course of nonrenal organ transplants: a lung transplant and a lung-liver transplant in two patients with mucoviscidosis, and a cardiac transplant. The diagnosis of AON was made histologically. In all three cases, the ARI supervened after prolonged consumption of antibiotics capable of interfering with the colonic flora, and leading to enteric hyperoxaluria. The recognition of AON as a cause of post-transplantation, ARI underlines hyperoxaluria and digestive hyperabsorption of oxalate as specific risk factors for AON and should permit better posttransplant care of these patients.     

Hantaan Virus Infection with Acute Renal Failure

Abstract: We report on 10 patients with acute renal involvement in Hantaan virus infection observed at the Department of Nephrology, Faculty of Medicine, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia, during a period of 3 years (October 1987-July 1990). Eight patients were male and 2 were female, aged 37.5 ± 4.8 years. The diagnosis of Hantaan virus infection was proven by an indirect immu-nofluorescent and ELISA test with a significant increase of the titer after a week to ranges from 1:512 to 1:2,048. Percutaneous renal biopsy was performed in 3 cases using standard procedures for optical and immuno-fluorescent microscopy. Fever, weakness, headache, conjunctival injection, hematuria, and lumbar pain were clinical features all patients had in common. Complete anuria was noted in 7 out of 10 and oliguria in the other 3 of the 10 cases with serum levels of creatinine 967 ± 152.6 u.mol/L. Other following laboratory findings were leukocytosis in 10 out of 10 patients, with neutrophylia, and reduction of serum sodium and potassium in 8 out of 10, and a decrease in serum complement C3 in 3 out of 10 patients. Percutaneous renal biopsy confirmed interstitio-nephritis in 2 out of 3 biopsied patients and acute diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis in the third. Interstitial mononuclear infiltration with dominant T cells proven with monoclonal antisera (direct immunoperoxidase method) was present in all 3 cases. The outcome of the disease was good in 8 of the 10 patients with a development of polyuric phase and complete recovery of renal function later. One patient with interstitial lesions on biopsy developed chronic renal failure, and the other with a concomitant brucellosis died during the polyuric phase of the disease.