ACUTE RENAL FAILURE

pre-renal: [= acute reversible renal hypoperfusion; usually gives OLIGURIA]

shock (low BP) from any cause

vascular disease limiting renal perfusion, e.g. dissecting aortic aneurysm involving renal arteries

post-renal: [usually causes ANURIA]

obstruction to outflow tract of both kidneys, e.g. prostatism, retroperitoneal fibrosis

intrinsic renal disease: [clinical presentation ranges from oliguria to polyuria]

acute tubular necrosis:

ischaemic [commonest cause]

nephrotoxicity:

pigment-induced:

rhabdomyolysis with myoglobinuria

haemoglobinuria, eg. with massive haemolysis

drugs:

aminoglycosides

radio-contrast media

ecstasy

organic solvents:

carbon tetrachloride

acute papillary necrosis (necrotising papillitis):

acute pyelonephritis in a diabetic

chronic analgesic abuse

infective:

leptospirosis

haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (E.coli 0157:H7)

septicaemia

diffuse renal vascular disease:

polyarteritis nodosa

disseminated intravascular coagulation

accelerated hypertension

other renal disease:

rapidly progressive or severe glomerulonephritis

renal vein thrombosis (commonest in nephrotic syndrome)

acute drug-induced tubulo-interstitial nephritis, e.g. barbiturates and many other drugs

other / miscellaneous:

eclampsia [causing diffuse cortical necrosis]

heavy metal poisoning, e.g. mercury

liver disease (hepato-renal syndrome)

severe acute hypercalcaemia

any acute infection in chronic renal failure

NB: causes of oliguria or anuria may overlap or follow each other, e.g. prolonged pre-renal renal failure commonly leads to acute tubular necrosis

FACTORS PREDISPOSING TO RENAL INJURY INCLUDE:
diabetes mellitus

hypovolaemia

myeloma

proteinuria

arteriopathy

drugs: NSAIDs, ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers

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