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Acute kidney injury
[uh-kyoot] [kid-nee] [in-juh-ree] · Also known as: acute renal failure, acute kidney failure
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Summary
Facts
Know More
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatments
Complications
Prevention
Questions
Nutrition
For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.
Source: Focus Medica.
CONTENT MEDICALLY REVIEWED BY
Health professional - Dr. Pawan Katti
Dr. Pawan Katti
M.S., M.Ch., F.MAS Urology · 13 years of experience · India

Summary
A condition when an abrupt reduction in kidneys' ability to filter waste products occurs within a few hours or a few days. Symptoms include legs swelling and fatigue.
Causes: Commonly caused by impaired blood flow to the kidneys due to pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, liver failure etc. Know More
Symptoms: Symptoms include leg swelling, fatigue, chest pain, and nausea. Know More
Diagrammatic Representation of Health Condition Acute kidney injury
Facts
Treatable by a medical professional
Diagnosed by medical professional
Requires lab test or imaging
Can last several days or weeks
Common for ages 60 and older
Can be dangerous or life threatening if untreated
Family history may increase likelihood
Urgent medical attention recommended
Know More
The following criteria are used for diagnosing AKI:
A sudden reduction in kidney function within 48 hours and serum creatinine increase by 0.3mg/dl or more just within 48 hours
Reduction in urine output: less than 5ml/kg/h for more than 6 hours
High serum creatinine: 1.5 to 1.9 times more than the baseline
Symptoms
CHARACTERISTIC
COMMON
RARE
The condition could be asymptomatic. When symptoms are present, it includes:
Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet
Fatigue
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Chest pain
Causes
COMMON
Acute renal failure causes can be pre-renal, renal, or post-renal.
Pre-renal: When the blood flow to the kidney is impaired. The following can cause an impaired blood flow:
Severe blood loss
Heart disease
Liver failure
Some medications like aspirin and ibuprofen
Overuse of NSAIDs
Renal causes: damage to the kidney
A blood clot formation in kidney
Kidney infections
Drugs like chemotherapy and antibiotics
HUS (hemolytic uremic syndrome)
Glomerulonephritis – inflammation of the glomeruli which are the kidney filters
Blood vessel inflammation or vasculitis
Post-renal: urinary obstruction
Diseases that cause blockage of urine include colon cancer, prostate cancer, cervical cancer, and blood clots
The risk factors include:
Age
Diabetes
High blood pressure
Block in the blood vessels in the arm or legs
Kidney disease
Liver diseases
Diagnosis
COMMON
IN RARE CASES
Based on the symptoms doctor may suggest specific tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Kidney function test
Blood and urine tests detect the abnormalities in kidney function by measuring urea and creatinine levels.
Ultrasound
To detect a urinary system blockage due to conditions such as enlarged prostate or bladder tumor.
Kidney biopsy
A small tissue sample of the kidney is removed for further analysis.
Treatments
Treatment of AKI requires hospitalization until recovery. It mainly consists of treatment of the underlying condition that is causing kidney failure.
Complications
Shortness of breath
Loss of kidney function
Muscle weakness
Prevention
To reduce the risk of acute kidney injury:
Manage any existing kidney problems rightly
Exercise regularly
Drink alcohol in moderation
Questions To Ask Your Doctor
Are there restrictions I need to follow?
What are the side effects of the medications given?
How can I best manage it with the other medical conditions I have?
Should I limit my physical activities?
Nutrition
FOODS TO EAT
FOODS TO AVOID
Foods to eat:
Moderate quantities of low potassium foods such as apples, cabbage, grapes and strawberries
Low salt foods
Foods to avoid:
Salty foods such as fast foods and canned soups
Limit phosphorus rich foods such as milk, cheese, peanut butter and dried beans