Evaluation of Tubular Dysfunction Using Urine Biomarkers in Children with COVID-19

The coronavirus disease pandemic is a major problem that the world has been facing since December 2019. It mainly affects the respiratory system; however, the disease can affect the kidneys to different degrees. This study aimed to determine the changes in tubular dysfunction and inflammation parameters in children with coronavirus disease using urine biomarkers. We included 36 children who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 on real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction using respiratory specimens. Coronavirus disease-positive and -negative period parameters were evaluated. For measurement of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and urine β2 microglobulin levels, patients' urine samples were collected at diagnosis and 1 month after discharge. Additionally, routine urine and hematological parameters were evaluated concurrently. For all patients, the median urine β2 microglobulin, serum urea, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in the coronavirus disease-positive period than in the coronavirus disease-negative period (P < .05). Further, serum platelet count was significantly lower in the coronavirus disease-positive period than in the coronavirus disease-negative period (P < .05). However, there was no difference in serum creatinine, interleukin-6, or interleukin-1β levels between the 2 periods (P > .05). Our results suggest kidney involvement and tubular dysfunction in patients with asymptomatic, mild, and moderate infections. Furthermore, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6 levels were high in the urine, even in non-critically ill patients. We believe that these findings contribute to the accumulation of evidence on continued inflammation in the kidney.