Acute kidney injury and COVID-19: lung–kidney crosstalk during severe inflammation

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients. Renal tropism of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) appears to play only a minor role, whereas the pathological inflammatory response associated with severe COVID-19 is highly relevant. Both the consequences of invasive ventilation and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) caused by COVID-19 have a significant impact on the pathogenesis of AKI. High ventilation pressures compromise renal perfusion and, thus, may contribute to the development of AKI. The inflammatory response caused by ARDS, as well as the endothelial dysfunction typical of COVID-19 in combination with hypercoagulability are further factors that affect the kidney.