Neonatal Acute Kidney Injury

Objective: Acute kidney injury is common condition in neonatal intensive care unit and is associated with poor outcome. The incidence of neonatal kidney injury is the highest incidence followed by adults and children, depending of different factors such as gestational age, birth weight, contributing conditions and the facilities of the NICU.

The aim of the study: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of neonatal kidney injury.

Methods: This was a clinical, prospective study that was performed in a referentt NICU at the University Children`s Hospital in Skopje. All neonates admitted from the period of 3 years with documented acute kidney injury were included. Мedical data records of admitted neonates with AKI were analyzed. The material was statistically processed using methods of descriptive statistics.

Results: During the study period 770 neonates were admitted to NICU and 6.5% develop acute kidney injury. The male to female ratio was 2.1:1. Most of the neonates involved in the study were born at term (62%). Oliguric AKI was found in 56% and nonoliguric in 44%. The prevalence of prerenal, renal and postrenal AKI were 78.5%, 19.5% and 2.0%. Perinatal asphyxia was the most common predisposing factor for AKI and was evaluated in 38% of cases with predominance of term infants and male. The mortality rate was 32% and was significantly higher in the group of patients with congenital heard diseases.

Conclusion: Acute kidney injury is a life threatening condition with still high mortality rate. Early recognition of risk factors and rapid effective treatment of contributing conditions will reduce AKI in neonatal period

Key words: acute kidney injury, neonates, risk factors