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. 2020 Jul 20;35(28):e257.
doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e257.

Acute Kidney Injury and Kidney Damage in COVID-19 Patients

Ki Ryang Na  1   2 , Hae Ri Kim  3 , Youngrok Ham  1   2 , Dae Eun Choi  1   2 , Kang Wook Lee  1   2 , Jae Young Moon  1   4 , Yeon Sook Kim  1   5 , Shinhye Cheon  1   5 , Kyung Mok Sohn  1   5 , Jungok Kim  1   6 , Sungmin Kim  1   6 , Hyeongseok Jeong  5 , Jae Wan Jeon  1   7
Affiliations

Acute Kidney Injury and Kidney Damage in COVID-19 Patients

Ki Ryang Na et al. J Korean Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. This disease, which is quickly spreading worldwide, has high potential for infection and causes rapid progression of lung lesions, resulting in a high mortality rate. This study aimed to investigate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on renal function in patients with COVID-19.

Methods: From February 21 to April 24, 2020, 66 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 at Chungnam National University Hospital were analyzed; all patients underwent routine urinalysis and were tested for serum creatinine, urine protein to creatinine ratio (PCR), and urine albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR).

Results: Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurred in 3 (4.5%) of the 66 patients, and 1 patient with AKI stage 3 underwent hemodialysis. Upon follow-up, all 3 patients recovered normal renal function. Compared with patients with mild COVID-19, AKI (n = 3) occurred in patients with severe COVID-19, of whom both urine PCR and ACR were markedly increased.

Conclusion: The incidence of AKI was not high in COVID-19 patients. The lower mortality rate in SARS-CoV-2 infection compared with previous Middle East respiratory syndrome and SARS-CoV infections is thought to be associated with a low incidence of dysfunction in organs other than the lungs.

Keywords: Acute Kidney Injury; COVID-19; Coronavirus Disease 2019; Proteinuria; SARS-CoV-2; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Changes in SCr and clinical events in three patients with acute kidney injury. (A) Sixty-two-year-old-man. (B) Seventy-eight-year-old-woman. (C) Sixty-four-year-old-woman.
SCr = serum creatinine, ECMO = extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, CRRT = continuous renal replacement therapy, HD = hemodialysis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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