Definition of Acute kidney failure:

Acute (sudden) kidney failure is the sudden loss of the ability of the kidneys to remove waste and concentrate urine without losing electrolytes.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

There are many possible causes of kidney damage. They include:

• Acute tubular necrosis (ATN)
• Autoimmune kidney disease, including:
  • Acute nephritic syndrome
  • Interstitial nephritis
• Decreased blood flow due to very low blood pressure, which can result from:
  • Burns
  • Dehydration
  • Hemorrhage
  • Injury
  • Septic shock
  • Serious illness
  • Surgery
• Disorders that cause clotting within the kidney's blood vessels:
  • Hemolytic-uremic syndrome
  • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic thrombotic purpura (ITTP)
  • Malignant hypertension
  • Transfusion reaction
  • Scleroderma
• Infections that directly injury the kidney such as:
  • Acute pyelonephritis
  • Septicemia
• Pregnancy complications, including:
  • Placenta abruptio
  • Placenta previa
• Urinary tract obstruction