Overview
Acute Kidney Injury is the loss of kidney function over a short period of time (less than 48 hours). The decrease in function could be a result of reduction in blood flow to the kidney, an abnormality sustained within the kidney, or an obstruction within the urinary tract. Symptoms include fatigue, fluid retention, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. However, often times the patient does not experience symptoms, which can make it difficult to detect Acute Kidney Injury. For this reason, routine blood tests often include the blood test (creatinine) that tests for kidney injury.
Symptoms and Causes
Usually, a nephrologist is called when your doctor sees a change in the level of creatinine in your blood test. When your creatinine level increases, it means your kidney is not filtering creatinine at the appropriate rate, which indicates a kidney problem. Tests including urinalysis, kidney ultrasound, and other blood tests that might show why and how the kidney has been injured. Many types of medications and fluids can be used to treat acute kidney injury depending on the cause.
We treat the underlying cause of the kidney injury first, which will usually lead to quick relief of many of the symptoms, so our patients typically don’t experience any distress once the treatment process is underway.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Call your doctor when you do not feel well.
- Be aware of side effects of medications that your doctor prescribes for you.
- If low blood pressure is the cause, fluids may be necessary.
- Avoid taking medications that can injure kidneys.