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Neonatal AKI Definition: Is the perfect definition attainable or even desirable? Proceedings from the First International Neonatal Nephrology Symposium

Pediatric Research (2025)Cite this article

Impact

  • The consensus neonatal modified KDIGO definition has been crucial in expanding our understanding of the epidemiology and impact of neonatal AKI. A consensus definition of neonatal AKI remains essential to continuing to advance the field.

  • This manuscript highlights a historical perspective, the strengths, and limitations of the current neonatal AKI definition, and reflects on the optimal characteristics and utility of neonatal AKI definitions.

  • The future of neonatal AKI lies with improved diagnostic precision and consistently incorporating neonatal risk factors into risk stratification incorporating and the deployment of novel biomarkers to aid in earlier identification and improve outcomes in neonatal AKI.

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Funding

Jaya Isaac was supported by the New York Consortium for Interdisciplinary Training in Kidney, Urological, and Hematological Research (TL1DK136048). The remaining authors have no funding to disclose.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine UPMC Pittsburgh Children’s Hospital Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Tara Beck

  2. Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore/Einstein, Bronx, NY, USA

    Jaya Isaac

  3. Division of Neonatology, Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA, USA

    Miranda Deutmeyer

  4. Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Michelle C. Starr

  5. Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Cara Slagle

  6. Division of Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA

    David J. Askenazi

  7. Division of Nephrology & Hypertension, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA

    Stuart L. Goldstein

  8. Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    David T. Selewski

Authors
  1. Tara Beck
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  2. Jaya Isaac
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  3. Miranda Deutmeyer
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  4. Michelle C. Starr
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  5. Cara Slagle
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  6. David J. Askenazi
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  7. Stuart L. Goldstein
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  8. David T. Selewski
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David T. Selewski.

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Competing interests

Tara Beck, Jaya Isaac, Miranda Deutmeyer, and Michelle C Starr have nothing to disclose. The following authors have disclosures: David T Selewski is a consultant for Bioporto Diagnostics. Cara Slagle is a consultant for Bioporto Diagnostics. Stuart L Goldstein: MediBeacon (Consultant, Director of Clinical Development, Shareholder), Vantive Healthcare (Grant Support/Expert Panel/Consultant), SeaStar (Grant Support/Expert Panel/Consultant), BioPorto Diagnostics (Grant Support/Consultant), Medtronic (Mozarc, Grant Support/Consultant), NuWellis (Grant Support/Consultant), Fresenius (Consultant), Calcimedica (Consultant), Novartis (Consultant), Otsuka (Consultant). David J Askenazi has consulted with Nuwellis, and Seastar. He has financial interests in patent/innovations in the area of urine collection and fluid balance devices. He is the Founder and Chief Scientific Officer for Zorro-Flow Inc.

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Beck, T., Isaac, J., Deutmeyer, M. et al. Neonatal AKI Definition: Is the perfect definition attainable or even desirable? Proceedings from the First International Neonatal Nephrology Symposium. Pediatr Res (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-025-04400-7

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