Interleukin-6 and Procalcitonin as Potential Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury Occurrence in Patients with Sepsis

Background: Timely treatment actions are critical for the early detection of sepsis in patients at high risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). This study aimed to investigate inflammatory biomarkers as potential predictors of AKI in patients with sepsis. Methods: This prospective observational cohort study included 300 patients who received treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of hospitals located in Padang, Indonesia. We obtained blood samples to evaluate inflammatory biomarkers, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and procalcitonin (PCT). AKI development was predicted using multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify independent inflammatory biomarkers. Results: IL-6, TNF-alpha, and PCT levels were markedly elevated in patients who developed AKI compared with those who did not (p < 0.001). The multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that IL-6 (OR = 1.82; 95% CI = 1.25-2.66; p = 0.002) and PCT (OR = 2.45; 95% CI = 1.58-3.80; p < 0.001) can both predict the development of AKI in patients with sepsis. The area under the curve (AUC) for IL-6 was 0.70, whereas the AUC for PCT was 0.81. These findings demonstrate that IL-6 and PCT exhibit strong predictive abilities for the onset of AKI in patients with sepsis. The ideal threshold values for IL-6 and PCT were 12.91 pg/mL and 1.79 ng/mL, respectively. Conclusion: IL-6 and PCT can serve as inflammatory biomarkers for predicting the occurrence of AKI in patients with sepsis.