BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuAcute kidney failureKidney failure; Renal failure; Renal failure - acute; ARF; Kidney injury - acuteAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your body. ElectrolytesElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes There are many possible causes of kidney damage. They include:Acute tubular necrosis (ATN; damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys) ATNAcute tubular necrosis (ATN) is a kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys, which can lead to acute kidney failure. The t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Autoimmune kidney disease Blood clot from cholesterol (cholesterol emboli) Decreased blood flow due to very low blood pressure, which can result from burns, dehydration, hemorrhage, injury, septic shock, serious illness, or surgery BurnsBurns commonly occur by direct or indirect contact with heat, electric current, radiation, or chemical agents. Burns can lead to cell death, which c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Septic shockSeptic shock is a serious condition that occurs when a body-wide infection leads to dangerously low blood pressure.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Disorders that cause clotting within the kidney blood vessels Infections that directly injure the kidney, such as acute pyelonephritis or septicemia SepticemiaSepticemia is bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) that often occurs with severe infections. Also called sepsis, septicemia is a serious, life-threate...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pregnancy complications, including placental abruption or placenta previa Placental abruptionThe placenta is the organ that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the baby during pregnancy. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches fro...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Placenta previaPlacenta previa is a problem of pregnancy in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb (uterus) and covers all or part of the opening t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinary tract blockage Urinary tract blockageObstructive uropathy is a condition in which the flow of urine is blocked. This causes the urine to back up and injure one or both kidneys.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin Medicines including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics and blood pressure medicines, intravenous contrast (dye), some cancer and HIV drugs Symptoms Symptoms of acute kidney failure may include any of the following:Bloody stools Breath odor and metallic taste in the mouth Breath odorBreath odor is the scent of the air you breathe out of your mouth. Unpleasant breath odor is commonly called bad breath.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bruising easily Changes in mental status or mood Changes in mental statusConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased appetite Decreased sensation, especially in the hands or feet Decreased sensationNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fatigue or slow sluggish movements FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Flank pain (between the ribs and hips) Flank painFlank pain is pain in one side of the body between the upper belly area (abdomen) and the back.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hand tremor Hand tremorA tremor is a type of shaking movement. A tremor is most often noticed in the hands and arms. It may affect any body part, including the head, tong...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart murmur Heart murmurA heart murmur is a blowing, whooshing, or rasping sound heard during a heartbeat. The sound is caused by turbulent (rough) blood flow through the h...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High blood pressure Nausea or vomiting, may last for days Nosebleeds Persistent hiccups Prolonged bleeding Seizures Shortness of breath Swelling due to the body keeping in fluid (may be seen in the legs, ankles, and feet) SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urination changes, such as little or no urine, excessive urination at night, or urination that stops completely Excessive urination at nightNormally, the amount of urine your body produces decreases at night. This allows most people to sleep 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate. Some p...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests The health care provider will examine you.Tests to check how well your kidneys are working include:BUN BUNBUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Creatinine clearance Creatinine clearanceThe creatinine clearance test helps provide information about how well the kidneys are working. The test compares the creatinine level in urine with...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum creatinine Serum creatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum potassium Serum potassiumThis test measures the amount of potassium in the fluid portion (serum) of the blood. Potassium (K+) helps nerves and muscles communicate. It also ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UrinalysisUrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other blood tests may be done to find the underlying cause of kidney failure.A kidney or abdominal ultrasound is the preferred test for diagnosing a blockage in the urinary tract. X-ray, CT scan, or MRI of the abdomen can also tell if there is a blockage. Treatment Once the cause is found, the goal of treatment is to help your kidneys work again and prevent fluid and waste from building up in your body while they heal. Usually, you will have to stay overnight in the hospital for treatment.The amount of liquid you drink will be limited to the amount of urine you can produce. You will be told what you may and may not eat to reduce the buildup of toxins that the kidneys would normally remove. Your diet may need to be high in carbohydrates and low in protein, salt, and potassium.CarbohydratesCarbohydrates are one of the main nutrients in our diet. They help provide energy for our body. There are three main types of carbohydrates found i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ProteinProteins are the building blocks of life. Every cell in the human body contains protein. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may need antibiotics to treat or prevent infection. Water pills (diuretics) may be used to help remove fluid from your body.Medicines will be given through a vein to help control your blood potassium level.You may need dialysis. This is a treatment that does what healthy kidneys normally do -- rid the body of harmful wastes, extra salt, and water. Dialysis can save your life if your potassium levels are dangerously high. Dialysis will also be used if: DialysisDialysis treats end-stage kidney disease also called kidney failure. It removes waste from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do their job. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Your mental status changes You develop pericarditis You retain too much fluid You cannot remove nitrogen waste products from your body Dialysis will most often be short term. In some cases, the kidney damage is so great that dialysis is needed permanently. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if your urine output slows or stops or you have other symptoms of acute kidney failure. Prevention To prevent acute kidney failure:Health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes should be well controlled. Avoid drugs and medicines that can cause kidney injury.Open ReferencesReferencesMolitoris BA. Acute kidney injury. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 112.Oh MS, Briefel G. Evaluation of renal function, water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 14.Weisbord SD, Palevsky PM. Prevention and management of acute kidney injury. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 29.AllVideoImagesTogKidney anatomy - illustration The kidneys are responsible for removing wastes from the body, regulating electrolyte balance and blood pressure, and the stimulation of red blood cell production.Kidney anatomyillustrationKidney anatomy - illustration The kidneys are responsible for removing wastes from the body, regulating electrolyte balance and blood pressure, and the stimulation of red blood cell production.Kidney anatomyillustrationA Closer Look Heart failure - InDepth(In-Depth)Heart failure(Alt. Medicine)Kidney stones - InDepth(In-Depth) Tests for Acute kidney failure Renal scanBUN - blood testUrinary castsFractional excretion of sodiumBrain natriuretic peptide testUric acid - blood Related Information Electrolytes(Special Topic)Septic shock(Condition)Burns(Injury)Dehydration(Condition)Acute tubular necrosis(Condition)Renal(Special Topic)Acute arterial occlusion - kidney(Condition)Rhabdomyolysis(Condition)Alcohol use and safe drinking(Special Topic)Crush injury(Injury)Kidney stones - InDepth(In-Depth)High blood pressure - InDepth(In-Depth)Scleroderma - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 4/11/2022 Reviewed By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Acute kidney failureKidney failure; Renal failure; Renal failure - acute; ARF; Kidney injury - acuteAcute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your body. ElectrolytesElectrolytes are minerals in your blood and other body fluids that carry an electric charge. Electrolytes affect how your body functions in many ways...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes There are many possible causes of kidney damage. They include:Acute tubular necrosis (ATN; damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys) ATNAcute tubular necrosis (ATN) is a kidney disorder involving damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys, which can lead to acute kidney failure. The t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Autoimmune kidney disease Blood clot from cholesterol (cholesterol emboli) Decreased blood flow due to very low blood pressure, which can result from burns, dehydration, hemorrhage, injury, septic shock, serious illness, or surgery BurnsBurns commonly occur by direct or indirect contact with heat, electric current, radiation, or chemical agents. Burns can lead to cell death, which c...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article DehydrationDehydration occurs when your body does not have as much water and fluids as it needs. Dehydration can be mild, moderate, or severe, based on how much...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Septic shockSeptic shock is a serious condition that occurs when a body-wide infection leads to dangerously low blood pressure.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Disorders that cause clotting within the kidney blood vessels Infections that directly injure the kidney, such as acute pyelonephritis or septicemia SepticemiaSepticemia is bacteria in the blood (bacteremia) that often occurs with severe infections. Also called sepsis, septicemia is a serious, life-threate...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Pregnancy complications, including placental abruption or placenta previa Placental abruptionThe placenta is the organ that supplies nutrients and oxygen to the baby during pregnancy. Placental abruption occurs when the placenta detaches fro...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Placenta previaPlacenta previa is a problem of pregnancy in which the placenta grows in the lowest part of the womb (uterus) and covers all or part of the opening t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinary tract blockage Urinary tract blockageObstructive uropathy is a condition in which the flow of urine is blocked. This causes the urine to back up and injure one or both kidneys.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin Medicines including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics and blood pressure medicines, intravenous contrast (dye), some cancer and HIV drugs Symptoms Symptoms of acute kidney failure may include any of the following:Bloody stools Breath odor and metallic taste in the mouth Breath odorBreath odor is the scent of the air you breathe out of your mouth. Unpleasant breath odor is commonly called bad breath.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Bruising easily Changes in mental status or mood Changes in mental statusConfusion is the inability to think as clearly or quickly as you normally do. You may feel disoriented and have difficulty paying attention, remembe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased appetite Decreased sensation, especially in the hands or feet Decreased sensationNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but they are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or le...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Fatigue or slow sluggish movements FatigueFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Flank pain (between the ribs and hips) Flank painFlank pain is pain in one side of the body between the upper belly area (abdomen) and the back.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Hand tremor Hand tremorA tremor is a type of shaking movement. A tremor is most often noticed in the hands and arms. It may affect any body part, including the head, tong...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Heart murmur Heart murmurA heart murmur is a blowing, whooshing, or rasping sound heard during a heartbeat. The sound is caused by turbulent (rough) blood flow through the h...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article High blood pressure Nausea or vomiting, may last for days Nosebleeds Persistent hiccups Prolonged bleeding Seizures Shortness of breath Swelling due to the body keeping in fluid (may be seen in the legs, ankles, and feet) SwellingSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urination changes, such as little or no urine, excessive urination at night, or urination that stops completely Excessive urination at nightNormally, the amount of urine your body produces decreases at night. This allows most people to sleep 6 to 8 hours without having to urinate. Some p...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Exams and Tests The health care provider will examine you.Tests to check how well your kidneys are working include:BUN BUNBUN stands for blood urea nitrogen. Urea nitrogen is what forms when protein breaks down. A test can be done to measure the amount of urea nitrogen ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Creatinine clearance Creatinine clearanceThe creatinine clearance test helps provide information about how well the kidneys are working. The test compares the creatinine level in urine with...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum creatinine Serum creatinineThe creatinine blood test measures the level of creatinine in the blood. This test is done to see how well your kidneys are working. Creatinine in t...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Serum potassium Serum potassiumThis test measures the amount of potassium in the fluid portion (serum) of the blood. Potassium (K+) helps nerves and muscles communicate. It also ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article UrinalysisUrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Other blood tests may be done to find the underlying cause of kidney failure.A kidney or abdominal ultrasound is the preferred test for diagnosing a blockage in the urinary tract. X-ray, CT scan, or MRI of the abdomen can also tell if there is a blockage. Treatment Once the cause is found, the goal of treatment is to help your kidneys work again and prevent fluid and waste from building up in your body while they heal. Usually, you will have to stay overnight in the hospital for treatment.The amount of liquid you drink will be limited to the amount of urine you can produce. You will be told what you may and may not eat to reduce the buildup of toxins that the kidneys would normally remove. Your diet may need to be high in carbohydrates and low in protein, salt, and potassium.CarbohydratesCarbohydrates are one of the main nutrients in our diet. They help provide energy for our body. There are three main types of carbohydrates found i...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article ProteinProteins are the building blocks of life. Every cell in the human body contains protein. The basic structure of protein is a chain of amino acids. ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article You may need antibiotics to treat or prevent infection. Water pills (diuretics) may be used to help remove fluid from your body.Medicines will be given through a vein to help control your blood potassium level.You may need dialysis. This is a treatment that does what healthy kidneys normally do -- rid the body of harmful wastes, extra salt, and water. Dialysis can save your life if your potassium levels are dangerously high. Dialysis will also be used if: DialysisDialysis treats end-stage kidney disease also called kidney failure. It removes waste from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do their job. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Your mental status changes You develop pericarditis You retain too much fluid You cannot remove nitrogen waste products from your body Dialysis will most often be short term. In some cases, the kidney damage is so great that dialysis is needed permanently. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if your urine output slows or stops or you have other symptoms of acute kidney failure. Prevention To prevent acute kidney failure:Health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes should be well controlled. Avoid drugs and medicines that can cause kidney injury.Open ReferencesReferencesMolitoris BA. Acute kidney injury. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 112.Oh MS, Briefel G. Evaluation of renal function, water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 23rd ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2017:chap 14.Weisbord SD, Palevsky PM. Prevention and management of acute kidney injury. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 29.