Definition:
Acute (sudden) kidney failure is the sudden loss of the ability of the kidneys to remove waste and concentrate urine without losing electrolytes.
Alternative Names:
Kidney failure; Renal failure; Renal failure - acute; ARF; Kidney injury - acute
Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
There are many possible causes of kidney damage. They include: - Acute tubular necrosis (ATN)
- Autoimmune kidney disease, including:
- Decreased blood flow due to very low blood pressure, which can result from:
- Disorders that cause clotting within the kidney's blood vessels:
- Infections that directly injury the kidney such as:
- Pregnancy complications, including:
- Urinary tract obstruction
References:
Clarkson MR, Friedewald JJ, Eustace JA, Rabb H. Acute Kidney Injury. In: Brenner BM, ed. Brenner: Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap. 29.
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