Intensive Care Unit-Acquired Weakness in Patients With Acute Kidney Injury: A Contemporary Review

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) are 2 frequent com-plications of critical illness that, until recently, have been considered unrelated processes. The adverse impact of AKI on ICU mortality is clear, but its relationship with muscle weakness-a major source of ICU morbidity-has not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, improving ICU survival rates have refo-cused the field of intensive care toward improving long-term functional outcomes of ICU survivors. We begin our review with the epidemiology of AKI in the ICU and of ICU-AW, highlighting emerging data suggesting that AKI and AKI treated with kidney replacement therapy (AKI-KRT) may independently contribute to the development of ICU-AW. We then delve into human and animal data exploring the pathophysiologic mechanisms linking AKI and acute KRT to muscle wasting, including altered amino acid and protein metabolism, inflammatory signaling, and deleterious removal of micronutrients by KRT. We next discuss the currently available interventions that may mitigate the risk of ICU-AW in patients with AKI and AKI-KRT. We conclude that additional studies are needed to better characterize the epidemiologic and pathophysiologic relationship between AKI, AKI-KRT, and ICU-AW and to pro-spectively test interventions to improve the long-term functional status and quality of life of AKI survivors.

Automated summary

Acute kidney injury (AKI) and intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) are two common complications of critical illness that have recently been found to have a relationship with each other. This review examines the epidemiology and pathophysiological mechanisms linking AKI and ICU-AW, and discusses interventions to mitigate the risk of ICU-AW in patients with AKI. The conclusion suggests the need for further studies to better understand the relationship between AKI, AKI-KRT, and ICU-AW, and to test interventions to improve the long-term functional status and quality of life of AKI survivors.