title: Epidemiology of acute kidney injury in Latin America.
abstract: There is little reliable information on the epidemiology of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Latin America. It is generally assumed that AKI in the developing world affects mainly young and previously healthy people, with an etiologic spectrum relying on particular socioeconomic and environmental conditions. Transmissible diseases such as leptospirosis, malaria, dengue, diarrhea, among others, are recognized as important causes of AKI in these areas. On the other hand, in large cities and university hospitals in Latin American, the AKI spectrum is similar to that seen in developed countries. Large studies are needed to improve our knowledge to design preventive strategies for this potentially lethal disease that affects all population subgroups, from the socially and economically vulnerable to the wealthy. In this article the available information regarding AKI epidemiology in Latin America is reviewed. Data obtained by the Latin American Acute Renal Failure Commission from the Latin American Society of Nephrology through surveys performed in 1997, 2000, and 2004 are reported. Finally, 3 particular medical conditions frequently associated with AKI in Latin America are reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care Medicine, Instituto Medico de Asistencia y Previsión, Montevideo, Uruguay.. Electronic address: rlombard@mednet.org.uy.
authors.forename: Raúl
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.affiliation: Acute Renal Failure Group, Hospital das Clínicas, University of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, State University of Rio de Janeiro Medical School, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Younes-Ibrahim
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Federal University of Sao Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nestor
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schor
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, São José do Rio Preto Medical School, São José do Rio Preto, Brazil.
authors.forename: Emmanuel A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Burdmann
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001180:Arthropod Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects; D003906:Developing Countries; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000150:complications; D019595:Severe Dengue / Q000209:etiology; D012910:Snake Venoms / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D001180:Arthropod Venoms; D012910:Snake Venoms