Admission plasma uromodulin and the risk of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis: a pilot study

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Uromodulin, a protein uniquely produced by the kidney and released both in the urine and circulation, has been shown to regulate AKI and is linked to tubular reserve. Although low levels of urine uromodulin are associated with AKI after cardiac surgery, it is unclear whether circulating uromodulin can stratify the risk of AKI, particularly in a susceptible population such as hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Thus, we investigated whether plasma uromodulin measured at the time of admission is associated with subsequent hospital-acquired AKI (defined by a rise in serum creatinine >0.3mg/dL within 48 h or >= 1.5 times baseline) in patients with cirrhosis. A total of 98 patients [mean age 54 yr. Model for Endstage Liver Disease Sodium (MELD-Na) score 19, and baseline creatinine of 0.95 mg/dL] were included, of which 13% (n = 13) developed AKI. Median uromodulin levels were significantly lower in patients who developed AKI compared with patients who did not (9.30 vs. 13.35 ng/ml, P = 0.02). After adjusting for age. sex, diabetes, hypertension, albumin, and MELD-Na score as covariates on multivariable logistic regression, uromodulin was independently associated with AKI [odd ratios of 1.19 (95% confidence interval 1.02, 1.37; P = 0.02)]. Lower uromodulin levels on admission are associated with increased odds of subsequent AKI in hospitalized patients with cirrhosis. Further studies are needed to better understand the role of uromodulin in the pathogenesis and as a predictive biomarker of AKI in this population. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this study, we found that admission plasma uromodulin levels are significantly lower in patients who developed subsequent acute kidney injury (AKI) during their hospital stay compared with patients who did not. Additionally, uromodulin is independently associated with AKI development after adjusting for clinically relevant parameters such as age, sex, diabetes, hypertension, severity of cirrhosis, and kidney function. To our knowledge, this is the first study linking plasma uromodulin with AKI development in patients with cirrhosis.