A systematic review of the incidence of acute kidney injury in infants with patent ductus arteriosus

Purpose of Review: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common and associated with poor clinical outcomes in neonates, affecting nearly a third of infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Premature infants and infants with very low birth weight are particularly predisposed to acute kidney injury. The presence of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may result in an inequitable distribution of cardiac output, which may compromise end-organ perfusion. Both conservative management and intervention have the potential to exacerbate AKI. This systematic review sought to assimilate the existing literature pertaining to the study of AKI in infants with PDA.

Recent Findings: This article collates the relevant literature using a systematic search strategy pertaining to the study of AKI in infants with PDA. Seventeen studies were identified using PRISMA methodology.

Summary: There is a paucity of literature pertaining to the incidence of acute kidney injury in infants in the setting of a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus. There is a great degree of heterogeneity in approach taken to define AKI/hsPDA in existing literature. Further research must employ the modified neonatal KDIGO criteria and a robust PDA scoring system which accurately measures ductal significance.