Via practica 2/2023

Acute kidney injury in COVID-19 infection – case report

Aim: The aim of this case report is to highlight a serious complication of infection COVID-19 such as acute kidney injury (AKI) is. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, our attention was focused on the dominant organ affected, which was the lung; however, it was the associated preexisting comorbidities or acute complications, including AKI, that negatively moderated the course and prognosis and mortality of this serious infection. Case report: In the case report we describe the case of a 72-year-old polymorbid patient admitted for general worsening of the condition, febrility, difficulty breathing, reduction of food intake, and the development of impaired consciousness with a positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen test with a diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia. At the time of admission, the patient was anuric with a laboratory correlate of AKI. During the hospitalization, with the complex management aimed at the infection of COVID-19 as well as at AKI, there was a gradual restitution of both inflammatory and renal parameters. Despite the late recognition of risk factors for the development of AKI in the pre-hospitalization period and the severe course od COVID-19 infection with the development of the multiorgan failure syndrome, we managed to favorably influence the course of the disease. Conclusion: Early recognition of risk groups and risk factors for the development of AKI in COVID-19 infection, followed by the implementation of preventive measures before and during hospitalization, contribute significantly to the course of the disease as well as to the serious consequences, not only in terms of mortality, but also in terms of progression, the development of chronic kidney disease and the need for renal replacement therapy, which adversely affects the quality of life.

Keywords: acute kidney injury, COVID-19 infection, risk factors, etiopathogenesis, prevention