Inflammation is common in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and contributes to increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The central nervous system plays an important role in the immune and inflammatory pathways of AKI. In this review, we discuss the preclinical evidence for the neural pathways associated with neuromodulation in AKI, as well as clinical trials that translate these observations into the clinical context. The ultimate goal of these trials is to design strategies using noninvasive approaches, such as splenic pulsed ultrasonography, to prevent or attenuate inflammatory conditions at the bedside, including AKI.
Keywords: Cholinergic anti-inflammatory reflex pathway; Pulsed ultrasound; Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury; Sepsis; Splenic nerve; Vagus nerve stimulation.
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