A clinical study of acute kidney injury in children with type 1 diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the incidence rate of acute kidney injury (AKI) in children with type 1 diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and the risk factors for AKI in children with DKA.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on 45 children with type 1 diabetes and DKA who attended Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2018 to 2020. According to the presence or absence of AKI on admission, they were divided into two groups: non-AKI (n=37) and AKI (n=8). Socio-demographic data and physical examination data on admission were collected, including height, weight, blood pressure, and heart rate. Chemiluminescence particle immunoassay was used to determine the levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen on admission and at discharge. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to assess the risk factors for AKI in children with type 1 diabetes and DKA.

RESULTS

The 45 children had a median age of 9.2 years at diagnosis. Among the 8 children (18%) with AKI on admission, 6 had stage 1 AKI and 2 had stage 3 AKI. An increase in corrected serum sodium level was an independent risk factor for AKI in children with type 1 diabetes and DKA (P<0.05), and a relatively high insulin level on admission was an independent protective factor against AKI (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a high incidence rate of AKI in children with type 1 diabetes and DKA. It is important to correct DKA actively, control blood glucose in time, and perform renal function tests and follow-up regularly in such children.