Outcomes After Post-Traumatic AKI Requiring RRT in United States Military Service Members

Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2015 Oct 7;10(10):1732-9. doi: 10.2215/CJN.00890115. Epub 2015 Sep 3.

Abstract

Background and objectives: Mortality and CKD risk have not been described in military casualties with post-traumatic AKI requiring RRT suffered in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements: This is a retrospective case series of post-traumatic AKI requiring RRT in 51 military health care beneficiaries (October 7, 2001-December 1, 2013), evacuated to the National Capital Region, documenting in-hospital mortality and subsequent CKD. Participants were identified using electronic medical and procedure records.

Results: Age at injury was 26±6 years; of the participants, 50 were men, 16% were black, 67% were white, and 88% of injuries were caused by blast or projectiles. Presumed AKI cause was acute tubular necrosis in 98%, with rhabdomyolysis in 72%. Sixty-day all-cause mortality was 22% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 12% to 35%), significantly less than the 50% predicted historical mortality (P<0.001). The VA/NIH Acute Renal Failure Trial Network AKI integer score predicted 60-day mortality risk was 33% (range, 6%-96%) (n=49). Of these, nine died (mortality, 18%; 95% CI, 10% to 32%), with predicted risks significantly miscalibrated (P<0.001). The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve for the AKI integer score was 0.72 (95% CI, 0.56 to 0.88), not significantly different than the AKI integer score model cohort (P=0.27). Of the 40 survivors, one had ESRD caused by cortical necrosis. Of the remaining 39, median time to last follow-up serum creatinine was 1158 days (range, 99-3316 days), serum creatinine was 0.85±0.24 mg/dl, and eGFR was 118±23 ml/min per 1.73 m(2). No eGFR was <60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2), but it may be overestimated because of large/medium amputations in 54%. Twenty-five percent (n=36) had proteinuria; one was diagnosed with CKD stage 2.

Conclusions: Despite severe injuries, participants had better in-hospital survival than predicted historically and by AKI integer score. No patient who recovered renal function had an eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) at last follow-up, but 23% had proteinuria, suggesting CKD burden.

Keywords: acute renal failure; chronic kidney disease; dialysis; military casualties; mortality risk.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / etiology*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / mortality*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / therapy
  • Adult
  • Afghan Campaign 2001-
  • Blast Injuries / complications
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Female
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate
  • Hospital Mortality*
  • Humans
  • Iraq War, 2003-2011
  • Kidney Tubules / pathology*
  • Male
  • Military Personnel
  • Necrosis / complications
  • Proteinuria / etiology
  • ROC Curve
  • Recovery of Function
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / etiology*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / physiopathology
  • Renal Replacement Therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rhabdomyolysis / complications
  • Risk Assessment
  • United States
  • War-Related Injuries / complications*
  • Wounds, Penetrating / complications
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Creatinine