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[Monitoring of kidney injury in preterm infants]
1Department of Neonatology, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, China. dongwenbin2000@163.com.
Insights
Acute kidney injury (AKI) in preterm infants is a serious concern, often leading to high mortality and long-term kidney issues. Early detection using new biomarkers is crucial for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Medicine
- Pediatric Nephrology
- Neonatal Physiology
Background:
- Preterm infants possess immature kidneys at birth, with continued development post-delivery.
- Various antenatal and postnatal factors contribute to the high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in this vulnerable population.
- AKI in neonates is linked to significant mortality and increased risk of chronic kidney disease later in life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of AKI in preterm infants.
- To discuss features, risk factors, and current assessment methods for AKI.
- To highlight emerging biomarkers and strategies for prevention and treatment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on acute kidney injury in preterm infants.
- Analysis of existing data on renal function assessment in neonates.
- Synthesis of information on novel biomarkers for early AKI detection.
Main Results:
- Traditional markers like serum creatinine and urine output have limitations in early AKI detection.
- Emerging biomarkers show promise for improved sensitivity and specificity in identifying neonatal AKI.
- Understanding risk factors and developmental immaturity is key to AKI prevention.
Conclusions:
- Early and accurate diagnosis of AKI in preterm infants is critical.
- Novel biomarkers are essential for timely intervention and improved management strategies.
- Optimizing AKI care can enhance long-term quality of life for preterm infants.
Abstract:
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in the neonatal intensive care unit that causes a high mortality of preterm infants and various chronic kidney diseases in adulthood. Preterm infants have immature development of the kidneys at birth. The kidneys continue to develop within a specific time window after birth. However, due to various factors during pregnancy and after birth, preterm infants tend to develop AKI. At present, serum creatinine and urine volume are used for the assessment of kidney injury, and their early sensitivity and specificity have attracted increasing attention. In recent years, various new biomarkers have been identified for early recognition of AKI. This article reviews the features, risk factors, renal function assessment, and prevention/treatment of AKI of preterm infants, in order to provide a reference for improving early diagnosis and treatment of AKI in preterm infants and long-term quality of life.
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