COVID-19 Infection and Acute Kidney Injury: Cause or Complication?

Blood Purif. 2022;51(3):288-291. doi: 10.1159/000516336. Epub 2021 Jun 9.

Abstract

Management of COVID-19 infection is the trend topic in the scientific community and case identification is a key step to contain the pandemic. While pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome represent the typical severe manifestations of the disease, atypical presentations pose significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for physicians, especially when diagnostic tests are repeatedly negative. Clinical picture of COVID-19 patients is often complicated by bacterial infections or thrombotic events. Here, we present and discuss a case report identified in our center as example of a challenging diagnosis and 2 uncommon complications: severe hyponatremia and acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy, caused by parenchymal damage and with a possible direct involvement of the virus.

Keywords: Acute interstitial nephritis; Acute kidney injury; COVID-19; Hyponatremia; Renal replacement therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury* / etiology
  • Acute Kidney Injury* / therapy
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19* / complications
  • COVID-19* / therapy
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyponatremia* / etiology
  • Hyponatremia* / therapy
  • Renal Replacement Therapy*
  • SARS-CoV-2*