[Acute kidney injury--recovery--which patients and why?]

Acute kidney injury occurs in up to 30% of all ICU patients. Renal replacement therapy is required in approx. 8%, and mortality in the latter group is up to 50%. Dialysis dependency occurs in 10-30% of survivors. Risk factors for non-recovery are baseline kidney disease, advanced age, and sepsis-induced kidney failure. Even in those with initial recovery the subsequent risk of chronic renal failure is high. Specific interventions to promote renal-recovery are not available. Nevertheless, there is some evidence that if continuous renal replacement therapies are used instead of intermittent haemodialysis the chance of recovery to independence from dialysis is increased.