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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Acute kidney failure is the sudden loss of your kidneys' ability to perform their main function of eliminating excess fluid and salts (electrolytes) as well as waste material from your blood. When your kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and wastes accumulate in your body.
Acute kidney failure, which is also called acute kidney injury, develops rapidly over a few hours or a few days. Acute kidney failure is most common in people who are already hospitalized, particularly in critically ill people who need intensive care.
Acute kidney failure can be fatal and requires intensive treatment. However, acute kidney failure may be reversible. If you're otherwise in good health, you may recover normal kidney function.
- Molitoris BA. Acute kidney injury. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192064788-4/0/1492/0.html. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Schroeder K. Acute renal failure. In: Bope ET, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-6642-2..C2009-0-38983-7--TOP&isbn=978-1-4160-6642-2&uniq=192064788. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Ferri FF. Renal failure, acute. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2010. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/192064788-4/0/2088/0.html. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Wolfson AB. Renal failure. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=aboutPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05472-0..X0001-1--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05472-0&uniq=193452254. Accessed March 30, 2010.
- Acute kidney injury nutrition therapy. ADA Nutrition Care Manual. http://nutritioncaremanual.org/vault/editor/Docs/Acute%20Kidney%20Nutrition%20Therapy_FINAL.pdf. Accessed April 8, 2010.
- Reclast (zoledronic acid): Drug Safety Communication – New contraindication and updated warning on kidney impairment. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm270199.htm. Accessed Sept. 1, 2011.
- Reclast (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.; 2011. http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/reclast.pdf. Accessed Sept. 14, 2011.
- Zometa (prescribing information). East Hanover, N.J.: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp.; 2011. http://www.pharma.us.novartis.com/product/pi/pdf/Zometa.pdf. Accessed Sept. 22, 2011.
- Nippoldt TB (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Sept. 19, 2011.
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