Does Chloride Intake at the Early Phase of Septic Shock Resuscitation Impact on Renal Outcome?

INTRODUCTION: Fluid administration is one of the first lines of treatment for hemodynamic management of sepsis and septic shock. Studies investigating the effects of chloride-rich fluids including normal saline on renal function report controversial findings. METHODS: This is a prospective, observational, multicenter study. Patients with septic shock, defined according to Sepsis-2 definition, were eligible. A "high-dose" of chloride was defined as a chloride intake greater than 18 g administrated within the first 48 h of septic shock management. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of cumulative chloride infusion within the first 48 h of septic shock resuscitation on acute kidney injury (AKI). RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-nine patients with septic shock were included. Patients who received a "high-dose" of chloride had significantly higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score at the time of enrolment (P < 0.001). Cumulative chloride load was higher in patients requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) (31.1 vs. 25.2 g/48 h; P < 0.005). Propensity score-weighted regression did not find any association between "high-dose" of chloride and AKI requiring RRT (OR: 0.97 [0.88-1.1]; P = 0.69). There was no association between "high-dose" of chloride and worsening kidney function at H48 (OR: 0.94 [0.83-1.1]; P = 0.42). There was also no association between "high-dose" of chloride and ICU length of stay (P = 0.61), 28-day mortality (P = 0.83), or hospital mortality (P = 0.89). CONCLUSION: At the early stage of resuscitation of critically ill patients with septic shock, administration of "high-dose" of chloride (> 18 g/48 h) was not associated with renal prognosis.