Association between serum homocysteine and postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiology
• Clinical Biochemistry

Background:

• Cardiac surgery poses a risk for acute kidney injury (AKI).
• Homocysteine (Hcy) is an amino acid that may play a role in kidney damage.
• The relationship between Hcy and AKI post-cardiac surgery requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between homocysteine (Hcy) levels and the risk of cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (AKI).

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 944 patients undergoing cardiac surgery was analyzed.
• Homocysteine (Hcy) levels were measured.
• The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) was assessed and correlated with Hcy levels.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of AKI was 14.30% (135 patients).
• Patients with AKI exhibited significantly higher Hcy levels (16.90 vs 13.56 μmol/L; p < 0.001).
• AKI incidence rose with increasing Hcy quartiles (7.2% to 26.72%), with the highest quartile showing a 4.43-fold increased odds of AKI.

Conclusions:

• Elevated homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (AKI).
• Hcy levels may serve as a predictive biomarker for AKI risk in cardiac surgery patients.