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sepsis and the kidney.pdf - SASSiT

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<strong>sepsis</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>kidney</strong> 213<br />

relied on ei<strong>the</strong>r ischemic or toxic injury to simulate ARF. More than ischemia or<br />

toxicity, however, is responsible for <strong>the</strong> cellular signaling to apoptosis in <strong>sepsis</strong>.<br />

In <strong>sepsis</strong> <strong>the</strong> loss of autoregulatory pathways, an imbalance between inflammation<br />

<strong>and</strong> anti-inflammatory cytokines, thrombosis <strong>and</strong> bleeding, vasodilation <strong>and</strong><br />

vasoconstriction, oxidation <strong>and</strong> reduction, catabolic <strong>and</strong> anabolic activity, <strong>and</strong><br />

dysregulation of enzyme activity all contribute to organ dysfunction through<br />

mechanisms not yet fully elucidated. It is in this pathologic milieu that <strong>kidney</strong><br />

function deteriorates in <strong>sepsis</strong>, which fur<strong>the</strong>r adds <strong>the</strong> stress of fluid <strong>and</strong><br />

electrolyte imbalance, waste clearance, <strong>and</strong> platelet dysfunction.<br />

Alterations in renal blood flow<br />

Intrarenal hemodynamic changes<br />

Systemic hypotension leads to autoregulation of local hemodynamics within<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>kidney</strong>. Afferent arteriolar vasoconstriction decreases capillary hydrostatic<br />

pressure <strong>and</strong> limits <strong>the</strong> perfusion of capillary beds. Impaired perfusion of capillary<br />

beds reduces filtration surface <strong>and</strong> leads to some reabsorption of interstitial<br />

fluid into <strong>the</strong> capillaries, as long as intravascular oncotic pressure remains constant<br />

or increases. Additionally, metabolic activity <strong>and</strong> waste products increase<br />

extracellular osmolality leading to fluid extravasation from cells. For <strong>the</strong>se<br />

reasons, intravascular <strong>and</strong> interstitial volume increase at <strong>the</strong> expense of intracellular<br />

volume.<br />

In <strong>the</strong> <strong>kidney</strong>, constriction of <strong>the</strong> afferent arterioles decreases glomerular<br />

perfusion. With less glomerular perfusion, less filtrate is generated. Micropuncture<br />

studies show that endotoxin decreases filtration rate <strong>and</strong> glomerular<br />

flow with increased renal arteriolar resistance [3]. This compensatory response<br />

may be somewhat protective in that it leads to less ATP-requiring work from <strong>the</strong><br />

highly metabolically active tubular epi<strong>the</strong>lial cells. Downstream of <strong>the</strong> glomerular<br />

capillary bed, decreased blood flow to <strong>the</strong> efferent arteriole reduces perfusion of<br />

<strong>the</strong> vasa recta. The vasa recta supply nutrients <strong>and</strong> oxygen, <strong>and</strong> serve as a conduit<br />

for <strong>the</strong> return of fluid <strong>and</strong> electrolytes to <strong>the</strong> systemic circulation from <strong>the</strong><br />

relatively hypoxic medulla. The S3 segment of <strong>the</strong> proximal tubule, or pars recta,<br />

is highly active <strong>and</strong> ATP-requiring. This segment is sensitive to alterations in<br />

blood flow because it depends on <strong>the</strong> deoxygenated blood of this microcirculation<br />

for its oxygen supply. For this reason, it is usually <strong>the</strong> first tubular<br />

segment to be injured from decreases in renal blood flow (RBF) or hypoxemia<br />

[4,5].<br />

Hypoxemia or decreased RBF is likely one of many mechanisms of renal<br />

injury in <strong>the</strong> setting of <strong>sepsis</strong>. It has also been suggested that renal ischemia<br />

related to decreased renal perfusion is not <strong>the</strong> main mechanism of ARF in <strong>sepsis</strong>.<br />

Animal models have shown increases in renal perfusion in <strong>the</strong> setting of<br />

hyperdynamic shock. ARF can occur in <strong>the</strong> setting of preserved or increased RBF

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