Clinical Features and Biomarkers

Prevalence and long-term outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) are not entirely known. Nevertheless, the incidence of AKI in those severe cases requiring hospitalization ranges from 2.9 to 50%, depending on definitions and clinical settings [1-5]. Several pathophysiological mechanisms leading to AKI have been recognized in COVID-19 disease. Beyond the direct renal cell invasion from the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), restrictive fluid strategies, hypoxia, cytokine storm, nephrotoxic drugs, and bacterial superinfections may be identified as co-acting factors for the AKI development and worsening (see Chap. 20) (Fig. 17.1). When associated with COVID-19, AKI (AKI COVID-19) worsens the patient’s outcomes, and affects health care staffing by increasing the requirement of personnel, equipment, and organizational resources.