Therapeutic and predictive targets of AKI

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a very common condition encountered in a hospital setting. AKI is an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortality. In this review, we discuss in detail about the tubular, inflammatory and vascular molecular targets of AKI which may result in therapies to improve mortality and biomarkers for earlier diagnosis of AKI.

Figures

Figure 1

Urinary IL-18 levels in patients with various kidney diseases. Urinary IL-18 levels in patients with ATN is several 100-fold higher when compared to other kidney diseases [Parikh et al. 2004].

Figure 2

Urinary IL-18 levels are significantly higher in non-survivors in critically ill patients [Parikh et al. 2005].

Figure 3

NGAL and IL-18 levels after cardiopulmonary bypass. Both biomarkers increased several hundred fold within few hours after CPB and predicted AKI much earlier than serum creatinine [Parikh et al. 2006].