Thursday, June 4, 2015

Causes of acute kidney failure

Diseases and conditions that may slow blood flow to the kidneys and lead to kidney failure include:

  • Blood or fluid loss
  • Blood pressure medications
  • Heart attack
  • Heart disease
  • Infection
  • Liver failure
  • Use of aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen (Aleve, others), or related drugs
  • Severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
  • Severe burns
  • Severe dehydration
  • Damage to the kidneys

These diseases, conditions and agents may damage the kidneys and lead to acute kidney failure:


  1. Blood clots in the veins and arteries in and around the kidneys
  2. Cholesterol deposits that block blood flow in the kidneys
  3. Glomerulonephritis (gloe-mer-u-loe-nuh-FRY-tis), inflammation of the tiny filters in the kidneys (glomeruli)
  4. Hemolytic uremic syndrome, a condition that results from premature destruction of red blood cells
  5. Infection
  6. Lupus, an immune system disorder causing glomerulonephritis
  7. Medications, such as certain chemotherapy drugs, antibiotics, dyes used during imaging tests and zoledronic acid (Reclast, Zometa), used to treat osteoporosis and high blood calcium levels (hypercalcemia)
  8. Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells
  9. Scleroderma, a group of rare diseases affecting the skin and connective tissues
  10. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), a rare blood disorder
  11. Toxins, such as alcohol, heavy metals and cocaine
  12. Vasculitis, an inflammation of blood vessels
  13. Urine blockage in the kidneys


Diseases and conditions that block the passage of urine out of the body (urinary obstructions) and can lead to acute kidney failure include:


  1. Bladder cancer
  2. Blood clots in the urinary tract
  3. Cervical cancer
  4. Colon cancer
  5. Enlarged prostate
  6. Kidney stones
  7. Nerve damage involving the nerves that control the bladder
  8. Prostate cancer
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