Early acute kidney injury and transition to renal replacement therapy in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Background Critically ill patients with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) requiring veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (vv-ECMO) are at risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). Currently, the incidence of AKI and progression to kidney replacement therapy (RRT) in critically ill patients with vv-ECMO for severe COVID-19 and implications on outcome are still unclear. Methods Retrospective analysis at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany) between March 1st, 2020 and July 31st, 2021. Demographics, clinical parameters, AKI, type of organ support, length of ICU stay, mortality and severity scores were assessed. Results Ninety-one critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2 requiring ECMO were included. The median age of the study population was 57 (IQR 49–64) years and 67% ( n = 61) were male. The median SAPS II and SOFA Score on admission were 40 (34–46) and 12 (10–14) points, respectively. We observed that 45% ( n = 41) developed early-AKI, 38% (n = 35) late-AKI and 16% ( n = 15) no AKI during the ICU stay. Overall, 70% ( n = 64) of patients required RRT during the ICU stay, 93% with early-AKI and 74% with late-AKI. Risk factors for early-AKI were younger age (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90–0.99, p = 0.02) and SAPS II (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.06–1.19, p < 0.001). Patients with and without RRT were comparable regarding baseline characteristics. SAPS II (41 vs. 37 points, p < 0.05) and SOFA score (13 vs. 12 points, p < 0.05) on admission were significantly higher in patients receiving RRT. The median duration of ICU (36 vs. 28 days, p = 0.27) stay was longer in patients with RRT. An ICU mortality rate in patients with RRT in 69% ( n = 44) and in patients without RRT of 56% ( n = 27) was observed ( p = 0.23). Conclusion Critically ill patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 related ARDS requiring vv-ECMO are at high risk of early acute kidney injury. Early-AKI is associated with age and severity of illness, and presents with high need for RRT. Mortality in patients with RRT was comparable to patients without RRT. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13613-023-01205-x.