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Acute Kidney Injury in the Cirrhotic Patient: Unique Features and Challenges

  • Management of the Cirrhotic Patient (A Cardenas and N Reau, Section Editors)
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Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in patients with cirrhosis which is associated with significant mortality and morbidity in these patients. AKI has been recently defined either by an increase in serum creatinine (sCr) of more than 0.3 mg/dl (≥26.5 μmol/l) within 48 h or by a percentage increase in sCr of more than 50 % from the baseline, which is known, or presumed, to have occurred within the previous 7 days. The main advantage of this new definition for AKI is the sensitivity in identifying patients in the very early stage of AKI by small incremental changes in sCr allowing institution of appropriate treatment and preventing progression. This article details the unique features of AKI in patients with cirrhosis, the challenges in the diagnosis prognosis and management of AKI, and the outcomes of different forms of AKI including the potential role of novel biomarkers.

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Rakhi Maiwall and Richard Moreau declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Maiwall, R., Moreau, R. Acute Kidney Injury in the Cirrhotic Patient: Unique Features and Challenges. Curr Hepatology Rep 15, 26–35 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11901-016-0290-1

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