Subphenotyping may help reduce heterogeneity under the umbrella term of acute kidney injury (AKI). Despite challenges remain, the identification of AKI subphenotypes has opened the potential of AKI research focused on better targeted therapies.

Clinical subphenotypes group patients into categories according to predisposing factors, disease severity, and trajectory.

These may be helpful in assessing patient outcomes. Analyses of existing databases have revealed biological subphenotypes that are characterized by levels of biomarkers indicative of hyperinflammation and endothelial injury.

Patients with increased levels of these biomarkers display higher mortality rates compared with those with lower levels and there is potential that this group might respond differently to therapies.

However, challenges remain in the validation, generalizability, and application of these subphenotypes.

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