Leading critical care experts will discuss new techniques for assessing risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) at an educational symposium to be held at the Eighteenth International Conference on Continuous Renal Replacement Therapies (CRRT) in San Diego. The symposium, "New AKI Biomarkers: A Revolution in Risk Assessment," will be held on Thursday, February 14, 2013, from 12:40 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. local time. Interested participants can visit http://www.crrtonline.com to register online and can follow via Twitter @ACuteKidneyMan.
Globally, AKI has emerged as a significant and costly threat in the eyes of hospital physicians, particularly those who treat critically ill patients. The condition strikes up to seven percent of the annual estimated 36 million U.S. hospital patients, with intensive care patients at highest risk. If undetected and unchecked, AKI can result in substantial kidney damage that can lower the quality of life, contribute to complications that may heighten risk of readmission, or even result in death.
Symposium attendees will hear newly published research regarding two biomarkers that have been recently shown to be highly accurate in the assessment of AKI risk. Presenting faculty for the event, Dr. John Kellum of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Dr. Andrew Shaw of Duke University Medical Center and Dr. Kianoush Kashani of Mayo Clinic, will also discuss strategies, challenges and advances in the management of AKI patients.