Empeiria

Sudden loss of kidney function

Clinically: Acute kidney injury · also AKI, acute kidney failure, acute renal failure, ARF

renal MONDO MONDO:0002492 unverified
This describes what this condition typically looks like. It is not a diagnosis and cannot tell you whether you have it -- patterns overlap, results vary between labs, and the same numbers mean different things in different people. Diagnosis usually rests on Creatinine, interpreted alongside symptoms and history rather than read off a report.

unverified These explanations are written to be easy to read and have not yet been checked against a source. The ranges and measurement notes on this page show theirs.

definition unverified

The kidneys lose much of their ability to clean the blood over hours to days. It is spotted by a quick rise in creatinine on a blood test, or by passing much less urine.

KDIGO 2012 defines AKI as a rise in serum creatinine of at least 0.3 mg/dL (26.5 µmol/L) within 48 hours, a rise to at least 1.5 times baseline known or presumed to have occurred within the prior 7 days, or urine output below 0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 hours. It is staged 1-3 by the size of the creatinine rise or the fall in urine output.

caveats unverified

The definition depends on change from a person's own earlier creatinine, not on one result alone. Doctors also try to find the cause in every case.

The definition depends on change from a person's own earlier creatinine, not on one result alone. Doctors also try to find the cause in every case.

No clinical version written yet.

The typical lab pattern

What the diagnosis rests on

The results a diagnosis is actually made on.

Creatinine high — KDIGO diagnostic criterion: serum creatinine up by at least 0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours, or to at least 1.5 times baseline within 7 days. Stage 3 includes 3 times baseline or a level of 4.0 mg/dL or more.
Consistent with it

Fits the picture, but not enough on its own.

Estimated glomerular filtration rate low ref ≥ 60 Part of KDIGO staging only for patients under 18: a fall in eGFR below 35 mL/min/1.73 m2 counts as stage 3. In adults the staging uses creatinine and urine output.
Urea nitrogen high — Urea (BUN) rises along with creatinine and has long been used to detect AKI. Trends in BUN and creatinine help decide when dialysis is needed.
Followed over time

Tracked once it is established.

Potassium high — High potassium is a dangerous complication of AKI and one of the usual reasons to start dialysis, so it is watched closely.