The dose of the normal saline pre-infusion and other risk factors for amphotericin B deoxycholate-associated acute kidney injury

Background Conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmBd) is the preferred amphotericin B formulation in countries with limited resources despite its nephrotoxicity. Normal saline pre-infusion is a recommended measure to reduce the risk of nephrotoxicity in patients receiving AmBd. Objectives To examine the effect of different normal saline solution (NSS) pre-infusion doses, and other potential risk factors, on the development of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients with invasive fungal infection receiving AmBd. Methods Adult patients with invasive fungal infections who received intravenous AmBd were included in this retrospective study. Doses of the normal saline pre-infusion were adjusted to the body weight (NSS/BW) and the daily dose of amphotericin B (NSS/AmBd). Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was used to estimate 14 d AKI-free survival rates, and the log-rank test was used to compare AKI-free survivals between groups. Results The present study included 60 patients; 31 patients developed AKI during the AmBd therapy. The overall 14 d AKI-free survival was 48.3%. NSS/AmBd, but not NSS/BW, was associated with AKI-free survival in patients receiving AmBd: the higher the NSS/AmBd, the higher the AKI-free survival. Gender, baseline blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and baseline plasma bicarbonate (Bicarb) also affected AKI-free survival. Female gender, higher BUN, and lower Bicarb were associated with higher AKI-free survival. Conclusions The present study suggests that low NSS/AmBd, male gender, low BUN, and high Bicarb are risk factors for AmBd-associated AKI. Excluding gender, these risk factors are potentially modifiable and would guide tailoring appropriate preventive measures for AmBd-associated AKI.