A call to action to evaluate renal functional reserve in patients with COVID-19

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) poses an unprecedented challenge to world health systems, substantially increasing hospitalization and mortality rates in all affected countries. Being primarily a respiratory disease, COVID-19 is mainly associated with pneumonia or minor upper respiratory tract symptoms; however, different organs can sustain considerable (if not terminal) damage because of coronavirus. Acute kidney injury is the most common complication of COVID-19-related pneumonia, and more than 20% of patients requiring ventilatory support develop renal failure. Additionally, chronic kidney disease is a major risk factor for COVID-19 severity and mortality. All these data demonstrate the relevance of renal function assessment in patients with COVID-19 and the need of early kidney-directed diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. However, the sole assessment of renal function could be not entirely indicative of kidney tissue status. In this viewpoint, we discuss the clinical significance and potential relevance of renal functional reserve evaluation in patients with COVID-19.