Background: Acute kidney injury is a serious complication of burn injuries. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 regulate extracellular matrix remodeling, and their dysregulation may contribute to the development of acute kidney injury.
Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the early predictive value of serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-1 for acute kidney injury development in burn patients.
Methods: This cohort study was conducted at the Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, in collaboration with the Burns Specialized Hospital, Medical City Complex, Baghdad, from January to May 2025. Eighty-eight burn patients aged 17–67 years were enrolled. Venous blood was collected from each patient upon admission and 48 hours post burn for serum creatinine measurement. AKI was diagnosed and staged according to serum creatinine based criteria. Serum samples were separated and stored at −20°C until analysis. The serum concentrations of Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. Statistical analyses included descriptive measures, tests for group comparisons, and ROC curve analysis to assess the diagnostic accuracy of Matrix metalloproteinase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 for acute kidney injury prediction.
Results: Serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels were significantly elevated 48 hours post burn compared to the admission values, whereas creatinine levels showed no significant change. At 48 hours post burn, patients who developed AKI exhibited significantly higher MMP-9, TIMP-1, creatinine levels and total body surface area (TBSA) than those without AKI, while age did not differ significantly.
Conclusions: Elevated serum levels of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 within the first 48 hours following burn injury may serve as useful predictive biomarkers for the early development of acute kidney injury in patients with burns.