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Fractional Excretion of Urea for the Differential Diagnosis of Acute Kidney Injury in Cirrhosis

Diagnostic Performance of Fractional Excretion of Urea in Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Liver Cirrhosis

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT04986137
Enrollment
100
Registered
2021-08-02
Start date
2021-09-04
Completion date
2023-11-30
Last updated
2022-10-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Acute Kidney Injury

Keywords

ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, acute tubular necrosis, pre-renal azotemia, cirrhosis

Brief summary

The aim of this study is to evaluate: * The diagnostic performance of Fractional Excretion of Urea (FEUrea) for the differential diagnosis of acute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis and ascites presenting to a tertiary care hospital. * The ability of Fractional Excretion of Urea to distinguish between 1. structural group of acute kidney injury (acute tubular necrosis) versus functional group of acute kidney injury (prerenal azotemia and hepatorenal syndrome), and 2. types of functional group (prerenal azotemia versus hepatorenal syndrome type 1).

Detailed description

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of end-stage liver disease and is one of the criteria that define acute-on-chronic liver failure. There are two types of AKI in cirrhosis: functional and structural. The functional group is divided into the volume responsive prerenal azotemia (PRA) that results from decreases in intravascular volume (e.g., aggressive diuretic treatment, diarrhea) and volume-unresponsive state or called hepatorenal syndrome (HRS). AKI that is unresponsive to albumin infusion and withdrawal of diuretics in the absence of identifiable causes. The structural group includes acute tubular necrosis (ATN) that results from intrinsic damage and other renal parenchymal disorders. Urea is filtered in the glomerulus and then largely reabsorbed in the proximal tubule and also in the distal tubule. The reabsorption of urea is increased by vasopressin and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. The fractional excretion of urea under conditions of decreased renal perfusion and increased vasopressin and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), such as that seen in cirrhosis with PRA or HRS type 1, should therefore decrease. Conversely, renal tubular injury should impair reabsorption and increase its fractional excretion. Since urea absorption is largely modulated in the proximal tubules, it is not affected by diuretics acting more distally. Recently it is therefore hypothesized that the fractional excretion of urea (FEUrea) could serve as a clinical aid in making an early distinction between ATN versus PRA and HRS type 1 in patients with cirrhosis and ascites presenting with AKI. The current study was designed to test this hypothesis.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Sohag University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Age greater than 18 years. * Decompensated liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh classification B or more) of any etiology diagnosed by clinical parameters involving laboratory tests, endoscopic or radiologic evidence of cirrhosis, history of decompensation (hepatic encephalopathy, ascites, variceal bleeding, jaundice), and liver biopsy if available. * Use of either loop diuretics and/or distal diuretics (ex; spironolactone and eplerenone) until the time of admission. * Availability of a baseline serum creatinine as defined by the International Club Ascites.

Exclusion criteria

* Prior liver or kidney transplant * Advanced chronic kidney disease defined as serum creatinine greater than 4 mg/dL * Patients on acute or chronic renal replacement therapy * Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in fractional excretion of urea percentage in urinethrough study completion, an average of 1 year.By equation : \[(urine Na ÷ serum Na) ÷ (urine creatinine ÷ serum creatinine)\] x 100%

Countries

Egypt

Contacts

Primary ContactEman A Sabet, Professor
eman_thabet@med.sohag.edu.eg00200102907077
Backup ContactMahmoud Kh Mahmoud, Doctor
mahmoud.khalaf@med.aswu.edu.eg+201092292409

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026