Obesity and pro-inflammatory mediators are associated with acute kidney injury in patients with A/H1N1 influenza and acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Background: The obesity has been shown to increase the severity of A/H1N1 infection and the development of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and organ involvement.

Methods: Circulating levels of C-peptide, insulin, glucagon, leptin, acute phase reactants (procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, tissue plasminogen activator, and serum amyloids A and P), were measured in samples from 32 critically ill patients with A/H1N1 virus infection, 17 of whom had ARDS complicated by acute kidney injury (AKI) and 15 of whom had ARDS but did not develop AKI.

Results: Patients with ARDS and AKI (ARDS/AKI) had higher BMI and higher levels of C-peptide, insulin, leptin, procalcitonin and serum amyloid A compared to those ARDS patient who did not develop AKI.