Biomarkers for detecting and improving AKI after liver transplantation: From diagnosis to treatment

Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is a well-established treatment for patients with liver failure. The shortage of donor organs and postoperative complications remain major obstacles for improving patient survival. Among these complications, acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most frequent types, contributing to graft loss. The timely detection and reversal of AKI can reduce its adverse influences on graft and patient outcomes. Traditional markers for detecting AKI are often limited with regard to their accuracy and specificity, and the discovery of better AKI markers and therapeutic targets assumes great importance. During past decades, studies directed toward early detection and treatment of AKI in OLT have been available. This review summarizes the evidence of these biomarkers for the prediction, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis stratification of AKI associated with OLT.