Acute Kidney Injury in ARDS: Insights into Physiology and Pathology

Acute kidney injury is a common problem in the critically ill patient. It is often part of the multi system organ failure syndrome where other organs such as the lungs are involved. In the critically ill patient, primary pathology in one organ can affect other organs, and systemic illness can affect both at the same time. In this review article, we closely examine the definition and stages of dysfunction in lungs and kidneys and the relationship between the physiology and pathology of these two organs as they interact and affect each other in the critically ill patient. We also seek to understand the effects common intensive care units interventions have on both those organs, with a special emphasis on external life support devices such as mechanical ventilation, dialysis and extracorporeal membranous oxygenation.