Recent advances in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury caused by COVID-19

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2（SARS-CoV-2）is a highly contagious respiratory virus. Acute kidney injury（AKI） associated with COVID-19（coronavirus disease 2019）has been reported in a growing number of clinical cases. Some recent studies noted that kidney might be a major target organ of SARS-COV-2. Multiple factors cause the changes of renal function， including direct viral toxicity，renin-angiotensin aldosterone system imbalances，disorders of immune system，cytokine storm，rhabdomyolysis，blood coagulation dysfunction，sepsis，drug-related renal toxicity and crosstalking between organ and symptoms caused by prerenal factors. This review summarized the potential pathogenesis of COVID-19-induced AKI.