Acute kidney failure, also called acute kidney injury, is the loss of the kidneys' ability to filter the blood, causing the buildup of toxins, minerals and fluids in the bloodstream.
This situation is serious, and arises mainly in people who are seriously ill, who are dehydrated, who use toxic kidney drugs, who are elderly or who already have some previous kidney disease, as these are situations that lead more easily to changes in the functioning of the organ.
The symptoms of kidney failure depend on its cause and the severity of the condition, and include:
- Fluid retention, causing swelling in the legs or body; Reduction of the normal amount of urine, although in some cases it may be normal; Change in the color of the urine, which may become darker, brownish or reddish in tone; Nausea, vomiting; Loss of appetite; Shortness of breath; Weakness, tiredness; High blood pressure; Cardiac arrhythmias; High blood pressure; Tremors; Mental confusion, agitation, convulsions and even coma.
It is important to remember that milder cases of kidney failure may not cause symptoms, and this can be discovered in tests done for another cause.
Chronic renal failure happens when there is a slow and gradual loss of kidney function, more common in people with chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease or vascular disease, for example, and may not cause any symptoms over many years., until it becomes serious. Also check out what are the stages of chronic kidney disease, its symptoms and treatment.
How to confirm
Renal failure is detected by the doctor through blood tests, such as measurements of urea and creatinine, which indicate changes in renal filtration when they are elevated.
However, other more specific tests are needed to assess the level of functioning of the kidneys, such as the calculation of creatinine clearance, urine tests to identify their characteristics and components, in addition to imaging tests of the kidneys such as doppler ultrasound, for example. example.
Other tests are also needed to assess the consequences of kidney failure in the body, such as blood count, blood pH and dosage of minerals such as sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphorus.
In the latter case, when the cause of the disease has not been identified, the doctor may order a kidney biopsy. Check the situations in which a kidney biopsy can be indicated and how it is done.
How to treat acute kidney failure
The first step in the treatment of acute renal failure is to identify and treat its cause, which can range from simple hydration in dehydrated people, the suspension of toxic kidney drugs, the removal of a stone or the use of drugs to control a kidney. autoimmune disease that affects the kidneys, for example.
Hemodialysis can be indicated when kidney failure is severe and causes many symptoms, severe changes in mineral salt rates, blood acidity, very high blood pressure or excess fluid accumulation, for example. Understand how hemodialysis works and when it is indicated.
In many cases of acute renal failure, it is possible to partially or fully recover kidney function with appropriate treatment. However, in cases where the involvement of these organs has been severe, in addition to the association of risk factors such as the existence of diseases or age, for example, chronic insufficiency may arise, with the need for follow-up with the nephrologist and, in some cases, cases, until the need for frequent hemodialysis.
Also learn more details about the treatment of chronic kidney failure.
