Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury in Severe Infections

To study renal perfusion and neutrophil-mediated inflammation 10 critically ill patients with sepsis and acute kidney injury (AKI) and 5 healthy volunteers as controls will be recruited and examined at one time with marked water followed by neutrophil elastase tracer. At the same time, a CT scan is performed for anatomy. Plasma levels of inflammatory mediators will be measured. Clinical data will be collected. The endpoints are changes in renal perfusion and increased presence of neutrophil elastase in the renal parenchyma.

Inclusion criteria

Patients with sepsis and AKI

• > 30 years
• At least AKI stage 1 according to KDIGO where the last plasma creatinine is measured within 24 hours of the examination

Healthy volunteers

• > 30 years
• No previously known kidney disease
• Normal plasma creatinine value

Exclusion criteria

• Chronic renal failure (CKD stage >3a) or dialysis
• Instability in vital functions that makes PET-CT examination unsuitable
• Claustrophobia or other reasons that make the patient unable to lie still during the examination.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding