Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury

Abstract

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host immune response to infection. The kidneys are one of the first organs to be injured in sepsis. About two-thirds of patients with septic shock develop acute kidney injury, with a six- to eightfold increase in mortality. Growing evidences elucidate pathophysiological mechanisms, biomarkers, and response to therapy of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI). However, there is still a lack of effective and specific interventions for the treatment of S-AKI. This review summarizes the relevant evidence and provides an overview of the current understanding of S-AKI, focusing on pathophysiology, diagnosis, biomarkers, and therapeutic approaches.