title: Clinical characteristics of acute hepatitis A complicated by acute kidney injury.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of acute viral hepatitis A (AHA) in Korea is increasing rapidly. Additionally, we are encountering more cases with acute kidney injury (AKI), which was once regarded as a rare complication of AHA. Thus, we investigated recent aspects of the incidence and clinical characteristics of AHA complicated by AKI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients diagnosed with AHA at 2 referral hospitals in Seoul during the period January 2006 to December 2009 were enrolled.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1025 patients, 71 (6.9%) had AKI. The incidence of AKI was 3.1% in 2006, 6.0% in 2007, 8.9% in 2008, and 6.9% in 2009. Patients with AKI were predominantly male, heavy alcohol drinkers, and smokers, and also had a higher rate of underlying hypertension than patients without AKI. At admission, patients with AKI had significantly higher white blood cell counts, prolonged prothrombin times, and elevated liver enzymes, including total and direct bilirubin, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and C-reactive protein. Additionally, patients with AKI had a higher peak total bilirubin level and lower initial serum albumin level than patients without AKI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most patients with AHA complicated by AKI recover with conservative treatment, we should pay particular attention to patients who have risk factors for AKI.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Jung Hwan
authors: JH
authors: Yu
authors: Ja Kyung
authors: JK
authors: Kim
authors: Jun Yong
authors: JY
authors: Park
authors: Yong Han
authors: YH
authors: Paik
authors: Do Young
authors: DY
authors: Kim
authors: Sang Hoon
authors: SH
authors: Ahn
authors: Kwang-Hyub
authors: KH
authors: Han
authors: Chae Yoon
authors: CY
authors: Chon
authors: Kwan Sik
authors: KS
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult