Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 4, 2025
Author Spotlight: Engineering Molecular Tools for Disease Detection and Imaging
Published on: December 8, 2023
Evaluation of Tubular Dysfunction Using Urine Biomarkers in Children with COVID-19
Nesrin Taş1, Arife Uslu Gökçeoğlu1, Kübra Aykaç2
1Department of Pediatric Nephrology, University of Health Sciences Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Children with coronavirus disease showed kidney involvement and tubular dysfunction, indicated by elevated urine β2 microglobulin. Inflammation markers were also high, even in mild cases, suggesting persistent kidney inflammation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) primarily impacts the respiratory system but can affect kidneys.
- Understanding kidney involvement in pediatric COVID-19 is crucial for comprehensive patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate tubular dysfunction and inflammation in children with COVID-19 using urine biomarkers.
- To assess changes in specific urine and serum parameters during and after COVID-19 infection.
Main Methods:
- Study included 36 children positive for SARS-CoV-2 via RT-PCR.
- Urine samples were collected at diagnosis and 1 month post-discharge for analysis.
- Measured urine β2 microglobulin, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and routine hematological parameters.
Main Results:
- Urine β2 microglobulin, serum urea, and lactate dehydrogenase were significantly higher during COVID-19 infection.
- Serum platelet count was significantly lower in infected children.
- No significant differences were observed in serum creatinine, interleukin-6, or interleukin-1β levels between periods.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest kidney involvement and tubular dysfunction in children with asymptomatic to moderate COVID-19.
- Elevated urine interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 indicate ongoing inflammation in the kidneys, even in non-critically ill patients.
- These results contribute to understanding persistent kidney inflammation post-COVID-19.
Objective:
The coronavirus disease pandemic is a major problem that the world has been facing since December 2019. It mainly affects the respiratory system; however, the disease can affect the kidneys to different degrees. This study aimed to determine the changes in tubular dysfunction and inflammation parameters in children with coronavirus disease using urine biomarkers.
Materials And Methods:
We included 36 children who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 on real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using respiratory specimens. Coronavirus disease-positive and -negative period parameters were evaluated. For measurement of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and urine β2 microglobulin levels, patients' urine samples were collected at diagnosis and 1 month after discharge. Additionally, routine urine and hematological parameters were evaluated concurrently.
Results:
For all patients, the median urine β2 microglobulin, serum urea, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in the coronavirus disease-positive period than in the coronavirus disease-negative period (P < .05). Further, serum platelet count was significantly lower in the coronavirus disease-positive period than in the coronavirus disease-negative period (P < .05). However, there was no difference in serum creatinine, interleukin-6, or interleukin-1β levels between the 2 periods (P > .05).
Conclusion:
Our results suggest kidney involvement and tubular dysfunction in patients with asymptomatic, mild, and moderate infections. Furthermore, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 levels were high in the urine, even in non-critically ill patients. We believe that these findings contribute to the accumulation of evidence on continued inflammation in the kidney.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Urine Studies I: Urinalysis
01:30Urinary Tract Infection III: Diagnostic Studies and Interprofessional Care
01:26Urine Studies II: Urine Culture and Sensitivity Test
01:24Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests
01:24Physiology of Urine Formation
Glomerular Filtration
The first stage in urine formation is glomerular filtration. Each kidney contains approximately 1 million nephrons, the functional units of filtration, with a...
01:17Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Renal Impairment
One condition associated with renal failure is uremia. Uremia is characterized by impaired glomerular filtration and fluid accumulation in the body. This condition hinders the renal clearance of drugs, resulting in drug accumulation and potential...