Acute Kidney Failure: A Brief Overview
What is Acute Kidney Failure? Acute kidney failure, also known as acute renal failure or acute kidney injury, is a sudden onset condition where the kidneys are unable to adequately filter waste from the blood. This can lead to dangerous waste accumulation and an imbalance in the blood’s chemical composition.
Rapid Development and Risks This condition typically develops quickly, often within days, and is more prevalent among those already hospitalized, particularly in intensive care units. Acute kidney failure can be life-threatening and demands prompt, intensive treatment. However, it’s potentially reversible, and those in good health may regain normal or near-normal kidney function.
Symptoms to Watch For The symptoms of acute kidney failure can vary, including:
- Reduced urine output, though sometimes it remains normal
- Fluid retention, leading to swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet
- Difficulty breathing
- Exhaustion
- Confusion
- Nausea
- Weakness
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Chest discomfort
- In extreme cases, seizures or coma
Occasionally, the condition may be asymptomatic and only discovered through laboratory tests.
When to Consult a Doctor Immediate medical attention or emergency care is crucial if you exhibit symptoms of acute kidney failure.
Potential Causes Acute kidney failure may arise due to:
- Conditions that diminish blood flow to the kidneys
- Direct kidney damage
- Obstruction of the kidneys’ urine drainage pathways (ureters), preventing waste excretion
Factors That May Impede Kidney Blood Flow Several diseases and conditions can slow kidney blood flow, leading to kidney injury, such as:
- Significant blood or fluid loss
- Certain blood pressure medications
- Cardiac arrest
- Cardiac conditions
- Infections
- Liver failure
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium
- Severe allergic reactions
- Major burns
- Intense dehydration
Kidney Damage Kidneys may also be harmed by:
- Blood clots in renal veins and arteries
- Cholesterol blockages disrupting kidney blood flow
- Glomerulonephritis, inflammation of the kidney’s filtering units
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome, resulting from early red blood cell destruction
- Infections, including COVID-19
- Lupus, leading to glomerulonephritis
- Certain medications, including chemotherapy, antibiotics, and imaging dyes
- Scleroderma, affecting skin and connective tissues
- Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, a rare blood condition
- Toxins like alcohol, heavy metals, and cocaine
- Muscle tissue breakdown causing kidney-damaging toxins
- Tumor cell breakdown releasing harmful substances
Urinary Obstructions Kidney injury can also result from urinary blockages due to:
- Bladder or prostate cancer
- Urinary tract blood clots
- Cervical or colon cancer
- Prostate enlargement
- Kidney stones
- Bladder control nerve damage
Risk Factors Acute kidney failure is often linked to other medical conditions or events. Risk factors include:
- Hospitalization, especially in intensive care
- Older age
- Peripheral artery disease
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Heart failure
- Preexisting kidney or liver conditions
- Certain cancers and their treatments
Complications and Prevention of Acute Kidney Failure
Complications Acute kidney failure can lead to several serious complications, such as:
- Fluid Overload: This condition can cause fluid to accumulate in the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties.
- Pericardial Inflammation: Inflammation of the heart’s lining may result in chest discomfort.
- Muscular Weakness: An imbalance in the body’s fluids and electrolytes can cause muscle weakness.
- Irreversible Kidney Damage: In some cases, acute kidney failure may progress to permanent kidney loss or end-stage renal disease, necessitating ongoing dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.
- Mortality: Unfortunately, acute kidney failure can sometimes be fatal due to the loss of kidney function.
Prevention Strategies While predicting or preventing acute kidney failure can be challenging, the following measures may help reduce the risk:
- Medication Awareness: Carefully read and follow the instructions on over-the-counter pain medication labels. Overuse of medications like aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen sodium can heighten the risk of kidney damage, especially in individuals with existing kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension.
- Health Management: Collaborate with your healthcare provider to control kidney and other chronic conditions. Adhering to treatment plans and medical advice is crucial for those with conditions that elevate the risk of acute kidney failure.
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices: Embrace an active lifestyle, consume a balanced diet, and limit alcohol consumption to moderate levels, if at all, to support kidney health.
