Acute (sudden) kidney failure is the sudden loss of the ability of the kidneys to remove waste and concentrate urine without losing
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:
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Acute nephritic syndrome - Interstitial nephritis
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- Decreased blood flow due to very low blood pressure, which can result from:
-
Burns -
Dehydration - Hemorrhage
- Injury
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Septic shock - Serious illness
- Surgery
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- Disorders that cause clotting within the kidney's blood vessels:
- Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
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Idiopathic thrombocytopenic thrombotic purpura (ITTP) -
Malignant hypertension -
Transfusion reaction -
Scleroderma
- Infections that directly injury the kidney such as:
- Acute pyelonephritis
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Septicemia
- Pregnancy complications, including:
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Placenta abruptio -
Placenta previa
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Urinary tract obstruction
