Background

The incidence and long-term outcomes of acute kidney injury in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) due to influenza A(H1N1) pdm09 virus (pH1N1) have not been examined.

Objective

To assess long-term renal recovery in patients with acute kidney injury and severe ARDS due to pH1N1.

Methods

A retrospective observational cohort study of adults with severe pH1N1-associated ARDS admitted to a tertiary referral center. Baseline characteristics, acute kidney injury stage, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), intermittent hemodialysis, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, survival, and renal recovery (defined as dialysis independence) were evaluated.

Results

Fifty-seven patients, most with stage 3 acute kidney injury, were included. The 53% mortality rate among the 38 patients requiring CRRT was significantly higher than the 0% mortality rate among the 19 patients not requiring CRRT or intermittent hemodialysis. Increased duration of CRRT was not significantly associated with decreased survival. Fifteen CRRT patients required transition to intermittent hemodialysis. Of the CRRT patients who survived, 94% experienced renal recovery. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was instituted in 17 patients; 15 of these patients required CRRT.

Conclusions

Acute kidney injury is common in patients with severe ARDS caused by pH1N1 infection. CRRT is a significant risk factor for increased mortality, but most patients who survived experienced full renal recovery.

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