Acute kidney injury (AKI) is caused by decreased blood flow to the kidneys (pre-renal), direct damage to kidney tissue and structures (renal), or obstruction of the urinary tract (post-renal).

Pre-renal causes result from reduced blood flow to the kidneys and include hypotension, shock, haemorrhage, sepsis, and thrombosis of the renal artery. Renal causes involve direct damage to kidney tissue and structures, such as nephrotoxic drugs, acute glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, and multiple myeloma. Post-renal causes are obstructions of the urinary tract, including a mass or tumour, ureteric stones, enlarged prostate, and hydronephrosis.

Key points

AKI is a rapid decline in kidney function that is often reversible but can lead to chronic kidney failure.
Pre-renal causes: hypotension, shock, haemorrhage, sepsis, thrombosis of the renal artery.
Renal causes: nephrotoxic drugs, acute glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, multiple myeloma.
Post-renal causes: mass or tumour, ureteric stones, enlarged prostate, hydronephrosis.
Urgent referral to specialist nephrology services is needed because AKI can be life-threatening.

What are the causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) categorized as pre-renal, renal, and post-renal?

Related questions