Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common condition in patients with cirrhosis. It occurs in up to 50% of hospitalized patients with cirrhosis and in 58% of such patients in the intensive care unit. AKI is one of the key predictors for short-term mortality in patients with liver cirrhosis with mortality rates as high as 90%. There is a remarkable increase in length of hospital stay with high financial burden on patients with AKI. In general, the three main causes of AKI are renal hypoperfusion (also referred to as prerenal AKI), which in most cases is due to hypovolemia; intrinsic, structural kidney injury; and postrenal injury due to urinary obstruction. A unique cause of AKI due to renal hypoperfusion in patients with cirrhosis is the hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), which is the result of renal vasoconstriction. Early identification and management of AKI may improve outcomes. In our locality, limited studies have discussed AKI in patients with liver cirrhosis and its outcome, therefore we aim to highlight the incidence, patterns, risk factors, and outcomes of acute kidney injury in patients with liver cirrhosis.