Duration
2023-2025
Lead institutions
KU Leuven
Université de Kinshasa
Academic partners
Philippe Van den Steen
Pepe Ekulu Mfutu
Project status
Ongoing
Programme
SI
Total budget
69,998.50
Summary
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AR-SA
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Malaria and its complications, including kidney injury, remain a leading cause of child mortality in the DRC. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is emerging as a complication of increasing clinical importance associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in children with severe malaria. AKI was identified as the strongest predictor of mortality alongside coma in African children with severe malaria. Data from our previous VLIR-UOS projects noted a remarkably ever-increasing incidence of AKI among Congolese children admitted in Emergency unit, and severe malaria was found as the first cause of AKI. The goal of this project is to contribute to the reduction of malaria-related child mortality in DRC by improving management and control of an emerging life threatening malaria complication which is AKI. To achieve this, the project aims to improve access to an affordable early diagnosis of malaria associated acute kidney injury (MAKI) on the one hand, and on the other hand provide clinicians with a way to identify patients at risk for MAKI among children admitted with severe malaria, for efficient patient referral and treatment. Furthermore, through this project, University of Kinshasa research capacities will be strengthened with a new expertise on MAKI, which will be used in clinics, in research and in teaching.
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