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COVID-19 and the Kidney: From Epidemiology to Clinical Practice
Ida Gagliardi1, Gemma Patella1, Ashour Michael1
1Renal Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Graecia University, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Insights
Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) significantly impacts kidney health, leading to acute kidney injury (AKI) in many patients. This review explores the renal aspects of COVID-19, including its effects on chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
- Virology
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, has led to a global pandemic with significant mortality.
- A substantial percentage of deceased COVID-19 patients had pre-existing chronic kidney disease (CKD).
- Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection, associated with poorer outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the renal manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- To investigate the role of SARS-CoV-2 in the development and progression of kidney damage.
- To provide insights into the management of kidney-related complications in COVID-19 patients.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on renal aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Analysis of epidemiological data, etiology, and pathophysiology of kidney damage.
- Examination of histopathology, clinical features, and management strategies.
Main Results:
- SARS-CoV-2 infection presents significant renal challenges, including AKI.
- Patients with pre-existing CKD are particularly vulnerable.
- The virus contributes to the development and worsening of kidney damage.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the renal impact of SARS-CoV-2 is crucial for patient management.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms of kidney injury.
- Effective prevention and containment strategies are essential for mitigating renal complications.
Abstract:
The new respiratory infectious disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that originated in Wuhan, China, in December 2019 and caused by a new strain of zoonotic coronavirus, named severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), to date has killed over 630,000 people and infected over 15,000,000 worldwide. Most of the deceased patients had pre-existing comorbidities; over 20% had chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, although SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized mainly by diffuse alveolar damage and acute respiratory failure, acute kidney injury (AKI) has developed in a high percentage of cases. As AKI has been shown to be associated with worse prognosis, we believe that the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on the kidney should be investigated. This review sets out to describe the main renal aspects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the role of the virus in the development and progression of kidney damage. In this article, attention is focused on the epidemiology, etiology and pathophysiological mechanisms of kidney damage, histopathology, clinical features in nephropathic patients (CKD, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, AKI, transplantation) and prevention and containment strategies. Although there remains much more to be learned with regards to this disease, nonetheless it is our hope that this review will aid in the understanding and management of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
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