Acute Renal Failure

You know that acute renal failure refers to the sudden deterioration in kidney function, characterised by reduced urine excretion to less than 10 ml/kg  body weight (oliguria and/ or anuria). 

Etiology 

The etiology may be classified according to the location of primary disorder as explained below. It can be prerenal, renal and postrenal cause. 

Prerenal  Causes 

This may be due to dehydration from severe vomiting, diarrhoea or dysentry, diabetic acidosis, hypovolemia in nephrotic syndrome, bums, bleeding, shock, trauma and  little sodium intake in I/V fluids. 

Renal Causes 

These include infection like glomerulonephritis, uremic syndrome, acute renal necrosis i.e. damage to glomeruli, tubules or renal vasculature caused by nephrotoxic agents, and neoplasms, drowning, etc. 

Postrenal Causes 

These include any disorder  that obstructs urine flow such as bladder neck obstruction, compression, compression due to extra mass, congenital anomalies, blood clots, calculus, inflammation and edema. You know that acute renal failure refers to the sudden deterioration in kidney function, characterised by reduced urine excretion to less than 10 ml/kg body weight (oliguria and/ or anuria).