The requirement of hemodialysis in patients with acute gastroenteritis–induced acute kidney injury

Abstract

Acute gastroenteritis is an important cause of preventable acute kidney injury (AKI). Inadequate or delayed restoration of diarrheal losses results in a very high incidence of AKI. Diarrheal illness is a major reason for hospitalization, but data on consequent acute kidney injury are sparse. The objective of the study is to determine the incidence of AKI in infectious and noninfectious diarrheal illness requiring hospitalization and to identify correlates and outcomes of diarrhea-associated AKI. None of the patients had any organism isolated in stool, probably due to prompt initiation of antibiotics/inadequate culture growth. Three out of our 6 cases did not require hemodialysis (HD) and AKI resolved on conservative management alone (fluids, electrolyte management, and antibiotics). Three out of 6 cases had nonresolving AKI and were dependent on renal replacement therapy (RRT) even at 1 month after discharge as they remained oliguric. One recent paper has reported the recovery of renal function after a period of dialysis. Frequent electrolyte abnormalities, risk of (catheter-related/bloodstream) infections, and severity of the primary disease are the chief reasons for the persistently high morbidity. Although, there was no mortality in our study.

Keywords

• abg – arterial blood gas
• age – acute gastroenteritis
• aki – acute kidney injury
• bun – blood urea nitrogen
• dm – diabetes mellitus
• hd – hemodialysis
• htn – hypertension
• lft – liver function test
• rft – renal function test