Insuficiencia renal aguda (I)

Abstract

Acute renal failure (ARF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by a sudden deterioration in renal function, caused by an impairment of diuretic function and resulting in a rise of nitrogenous waste products in blood and in homeostasis impairment. ARF may result from several causes resulting in renal hypoperfusion (prerenal origin), damage in renal parenchyma (parenchymatous origin) or urinary tract obstruction (obstructive origin). Sometimes etiology is multifactorial. Depending on the etiology, clinical features vary. ARF affects both outpatients and inpatients, mainly to critically ill patient. Severe ARF is related to high mobility and mortality rates, which are associated with high healthcare costs. Most of the survivor patients recover renal function, although some of them will require renal-replacement therapy or will evolve to chronic renal insufficiency which will progress to end-stage renal disease. Because ARF prognosis is poor, early diagnosis is mandatory.