Prognosis of AKI in malignant diseases with and without sepsis

AKI significantly worsens prognosis of hospitalized patients. This is particularly the case in patients with sepsis. The risk for aquiring sepsis is significantly increased in malignant diseases. Aim of the present retrospective study was to analyze outcomes of tumor patients with sepsis and AKI.

One-thousand and seventeen patients, treated at the ICU of the Department of Nephrology and Rheumatology of the University Hospital Göttingen from 2009 to 2011 were retrospectively analyzed for mortality, sepsis, AKI, need for renal replacement therapy (dialysis) and malignancies.

AKI occurred significantly more frequent in septic than in non-septic patients and in tumor as oposed to non-tumor patients. Mortaliy rates were higher in the respective latter groups. Mortality increased even further if patients suffered from a malignant disease with sepsis and AKI. Mortality rates peaked if dialysis treatment became mandatory. In non-solid tumors 100% of the patients died if they suffered drom sepsis and AKI. This was not the case in solid malignancies (mortality rate 56%).

We conclude that prognosis of tumor patients with AKI and sepsis is very poor. Mortality increases to almost 70% if diaylsis therapy is initiated. Non-solid tumors are associated with a 100% mortality if sepsis and AKI conincide.