Acute Kidney Failure Health Article

Prevention

Since AKF can be caused by many things, prevention is difficult. Medications that may impair kidney function should be given cautiously. Patients with preexisting kidney conditions who are hospitalized for other illnesses or injuries should be carefully monitored for kidney failure complications. Treatments and procedures that may put them at risk for kidney failure (like diagnostic tests requiring radiocontrast agents or dyes) should be used with extreme caution.

KEY TERMS

Anuria—When the body ceases to make urine entirely or falls below 100 mls.

Azotemia—Too many nitrogenous compounds in the blood caused by the kidneys' failure to remove urea from the blood.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)—A waste product that is formed in the liver and collects in the bloodstream; patients with kidney failure have high BUN levels.

Capillary wedge pressure—The blood pressure inside of a capillary.

Cardiac output—The volume of blood pushed out by the ventricles.

Creatinine—A protein produced by muscle that healthy kidneys filter out.

Edema—The abnormal accumulation of fluid in the interstitial spaces of tissue.

Electrolytes—An element or a compound that can break into ions and conduct electrical current when melted or dissolved in water.

Erythropoietin (EPO)—A glycoprotein hormone made in the kidneys.

Extracellular fluid (ECF)—That part of body fluid made of interstitial fluid and blood plasma.

Extracorporeal—Outside of, or unrelated to, the body.

Glomeruli—The tiny structures that perform the actual mechanical filtering in the kidney.

Gout—A condition caused by error in uric acid metabolism.

Interstitial—The space between cells.

Intravascular volume—The volume of fluid inside a blood vessel.

Intrinsic—Starting from or situated inside an organ or tissue.

Ischemia—A lack of blood supply to an organ or tissue.

Lymphoma—Cancer of the lymph tissue.

Nephritis—Inflammation and abnormal functioning of the kidney.

Nephrologist—A physician who specializes in treating diseases of the kidney.

Nephrotoxic—Toxic, or damaging, to the kidney.

NSAIDS—Non-steroidal, antiinflammatory drug.

Oliguria—Abnormally low urine production.

Radiocontrast agents—Dyes administered to a patient for the purposes of a radiologic study.

Sepsis—A bacterial infection of the bloodstream.

Urea—A systemic diuretic.

Vasopressors—Medications that constrict the blood vessels.

BOOKS

Anderson, Kenneth N., Anderson, Lois, E., and Glanze, Walter D., eds. Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary, 5th edition. New York: Mosby, 1998.

Beers, Mark H., M.D., and Berkow, Robert M.D., eds. The Merck Manual, 17th edition. New Jersey: Merck Research Laboratories, 1999.

Faubert, Pierre F., and Porush, Jerome G. Renal Disease in the Elderly. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc., 1999.

Gennari, F. John, ed. Medical Management of Kidney and Electrolyte Disorders. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc.,2001.

Greenberg, Arthur, Cheung, Alfred K., Coffmann, Thomas M., Falk, Ronald J., and J. Charles, Jeanette, eds. Primer on Kidney Diseases, Second Edition - National Kidney Foundation. New York: Academic Press, 1999.

PERIODICALS

Andreucci, M., Federico, S., and Andreucci, V.E. "Edema and Acute Renal Failure." Seminars in Nephrology 21, 3(May 2001): 251-6.

Forbes, J.M., Hewitson, T.D., Becker, G.J., and Jones, C.L. "Simultaneous Blockade of Endothelin A and B Receptors in Ischemic Acute Renal Failure is Detrimental to Long-term Kidney Function." Kidney International 59, 4(April 2001): 1333-41.

Gruberg, L., Mehran, R., Dangas, G., Mintz, G.S., Waksman, R., Kent, K.M., Pichard, A.D., Satler, L.F., Wu, H., and Leon, M.B. "Acute Renal Failure Requiring Dialysis After Percutaneous Coronary Interventions." Catheter Cardiovascular Interventions 59, 4(April 2001): 409-16.

Knoll, T., Schult, S., Birck, R., Braun, C., Michel, M.S., Bross, S., Juenemann, K.P., Kirchengast, M., and Rohmeiss, P. "Therapeutic Administration of an Endothelin-A Receptor Antagonist After Acute Ischemic Renal Failure Dose-Dependently Improves Recovery of Renal Function." Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology 37, 4(April 2001): 483-8.

Rana, A., Sathyanarayana, P., and Lieberthal, W. "Role of Apoptosis of Renal Tubular Cells in Acute Renal Failure: Therapeutic Implications." Apoptosis 6,1-2(February-April 2001): 83-102.

ORGANIZATIONS

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). Natcher Building, 6AS-13K, 45 Center Dr., Bethesda, MD 20892-6600. <http://www.niddk.nih.gov>.

National Kidney Foundation (NKF). 30 East 33rd St., New York, NY 10016. (800) 622-9020. <http://www.kidney.org>.

Susan Joanne Cadwallader