A Study of Acute Kidney Injury in Children at Sohag University Hospital

Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a prevalent and critical illness in pediatric patients, marked by an abrupt deterioration in kidney function, resulting in the buildup of waste products, electrolyte disturbances, and disruption of fluid balance. AKI is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in pediatric populations. Despite its importance, there is limited data on the spectrum, etiology, and outcomes of AKI in children in Upper Egypt. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the demographics, causes, clinical features, and outcomes of AKI in children admitted to Sohag University Hospital. Methods: A combined retrospective and prospective cohort study was conducted at Sohag University Hospital-Pediatric Department from January 2022 to December 2022. The study included 150 children aged between 1 month and 16 years who were diagnosed with AKI based on the KDIGO criteria. Data were collected about patients’ demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory findings, fluid status, and outcomes. Results: About half of AKI cases (50.7%) occurred in children under one year of age. About 67 (44.7%) of patients were males, while 83 (55.3%) were females. The primary causes of AKI were pre-renal causes (78%), with gastroenteritis and dehydration being the most common (45.3%). Intrinsic renal causes accounted for 19.3% of cases, with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and pyelonephritis being prevalent and about 3.4% glomerulonephritis. Post-renal causes were observed in 2.7% of cases. The study found that 23.3% of patients were hypertensive at admission, and 10.7% were hypotensive. Anemia was present in 68.7% of cases, thrombocytopenia in 23.3%, and leukocytosis in 62%, with three cases of survivors developing chronic kidney disease (CKD). Conclusions: AKI is a significant contributor to pediatric morbidity in Sohag University Hospital, with pre-renal causes being the most common.