[An overview on acute kidney injury in COVID-19]

ABSTRACT

SARS-CoV-2 infection is responsible for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In the complex scenario of COVID-19, it is also possible to find patients with renal damage. The pathogenesis is multifactorial and not unique, and the clinical presentation may include urinary alterations, such as proteinuria and hematuria, accompanied with reduced renal function, or not. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is not uncommon, especially among critically ill patients hospitalized in intensive care unit. AKI is a negative prognostic factor and is associated with high in-hospital mortality. An early diagnosis of AKI and the assessment of any risk factors allow the nephrologist to implement appropriate therapeutic strategies, such as pharmacological or extracorporeal support. Still, mortality in patients with AKI during COVID-19 remains high. COVID-19 AKI is a quickly evolving field of study.