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Acute Renal Failure Risk

Kidneys perform many essential functions, including eliminating toxic wastes and maintaining electrolyte balances. Acute renal failure is defined as irregular and abnormal functioning of the kidneys. Large levels of harmful, toxic wastes get accumulated inside the body and can cause health hazards such as blood acidification and electrolyte imbalances.

  1. Acute Renal Failure Risk Factors

    • The Mayo Clinic identifies three primary types of causes of acute renal failure.They are pre-renal, post-renal and renal/intrinsic risk factors. Pre-renal causes are conditions that frequently obstruct the regular flow of blood through the kidneys, hence increasing the chances of developing acute renal failure. Post-renal factors are conditions obstructing the passages the body uses to get rid toxic waste. As a result, large amounts of waste get accumulated and cause acute renal failure. Renal causes, also called intrinsic causes, damage the structural composition and properties of the kidneys and leave them vulnerable to renal disorders including acute renal failure.

    Prerenal Risk Factors

    • Pre-renal risk factors resulting in acute kidney failure include shock, acute dehydration, medical conditions such as irregular and abnormal heart beat, blockages in the arteries of the heart among others. Acute dehydration often results in narrowing and constriction of the arteries in the heart, thereby reducing the blood circulation throughout the body and increasing the chances of developing acute renal failure. Some of the other common pre-renal risk factors causing acute renal failure include infections of the blood stream like sepsis, and extremely low blood pressure.

    Post-Renal Risk Factors

    • Kidney disorders like stones, constriction of the bladder and prostate enlargement are a few of the general post-renal risk factors of acute kidney disorder.

    Intrinsic/Renal Risk Factors

    • Excessive and regular intake of certain medicines like NSAID's (most commonly aspirin and ibuprofen) and aminoglycosides is one of the common renal/intrinsic causes resulting in acute renal failure. When taken regularly, the above mentioned medicines frequently damage the structure of the kidneys, diminishing the blood flow and as a result increase the chances of developing acute renal failure. Increased hemoglobin levels and swelling up of the kidneys are some of the other common renal risk factors of acute renal failure.

    Few Other Causes

    • Diabetes, immune system disorders such as scleroderma, liver disorders, and progressing age among others are some of the possible risk factors resulting in acute renal failure.

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