Last Updated on March 19, 2025 by Analgesia team
Acute Kidney Injury | The Most Common Cause
AKI is characterized by: A sudden decrease in urine output and An increase in serum creatinine.
Causes of AKI
The most common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI) is reduced blood flow to the kidneys. This can be due to several conditions, including dehydration, heart disease, or infections.
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- Dehydration: Loss of too much body fluid, which can be caused by vomiting, diarrhoea, or bleeding
- Heart disease: Heart failure, heart attack, or other conditions that reduce blood flow from the heart
- Infections: Infections like sepsis or septic shock can reduce blood flow to the kidneys
- Blood pressure medicines: Severe low blood pressure from some blood pressure medicines can cause kidney injury
- Allergic reactions: Severe allergic reactions, called anaphylaxis, can cause kidney injury
- Dehydration: Loss of too much body fluid, which can be caused by vomiting, diarrhoea, or bleeding
- Blockages in the urinary tract, such as kidney stones or an enlarged prostate
- Medications: Some medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen sodium, can cause kidney injury
- Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus or glomerulonephritis
- Cancers, such as bladder, cervical, ovarian, or prostate cancer
Symptoms of AKI
Acute kidney injury is often difficult to detect because there are rarely any symptoms until kidney function is severely damaged. However, when symptoms do occur, they include
- nausea and vomiting.
- dehydration.
- confusion.
- reduced urine output (pee) or changes to urine colour.
- high blood pressure.
- abdominal pain.
- slight backache.
- a build-up of fluid in the body (oedema)
Diagnosis
AKI is diagnosed based on changes in serum creatinine and/or a reduction in urine output.
Treatment
Acute kidney injury (AKI) treatment depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Treatments include:
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- Fluids: If you’re dehydrated, you may need to increase your fluid intake, either by mouth or through a drip.
- Antibiotics: If you have an infection, you may need antibiotics.
- Stop certain medicines: You may need to stop taking certain medicines, such as ibuprofen, until your kidney function improves.
- Urinary catheter: If there’s a blockage, you may need a thin tube to drain your bladder.
- Dialysis: In severe cases, you may need dialysis to filter your blood and remove waste.
- Medications: You may need medicines to control your blood pressure, potassium, and calcium levels.
- Hemodialysis: If wastes build up in your blood, you may need hemodialysis to remove poisons and excess fluids.
- Fluids: If you’re dehydrated, you may need to increase your fluid intake, either by mouth or through a drip.
Most people with AKI make a full recovery, but some people go on to develop chronic kidney disease or long-term kidney failure
Complications
- Age
- Diabetes
- History of AKI or urological obstruction
- History of chronic kidney disease, heart failure, liver disease, or diabetes