Acute Kidney FailureSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Acute Kidney Failure
Acute kidney failure is the rapid (less than 2 days) loss of your kidneys' ability to remove waste and help balance fluids and electrolytes in your body.
Kidney failure; Renal failure; Renal failure - acute; ARF; Kidney injury - acute
There are many possible causes of kidney damage. They include:
- Acute tubular necrosis (ATN; damage to the tubule cells of the kidneys)
- Autoimmune kidney disease
- Blood clot in the blood vessels to the kidneys
- Decreased blood flow from cholesterol emboli
- Decreased blood flow due to very low blood pressure, which can result from burns, dehydration, hemorrhage, injury, septic shock, serious illness, or surgery
- Diseases that cause clotting within the kidney blood vessels
- Infections that directly injure the kidney, such as acute pyelonephritis or septicemia
- Pregnancy complications, including placental abruption or placenta previa
- Urinary tract blockage
- Illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin
- Medicines including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics and blood pressure medicines, intravenous contrast (dye), some cancer and HIV medicines
Symptoms of acute kidney failure may include any of the following:
- Blood in the stools
- Blood in the urine
- Breath odor and metallic taste in the mouth
- Bruising easily
- Changes in mental status or mood
- Decreased appetite
- Decreased sensation, especially in the hands or feet
- Fatigue or slow sluggish movements
- Flank pain (between the ribs and hips)
- Hand tremor
- Heart murmur
- High blood pressure
- Nausea or vomiting, may last for days
- Nosebleeds
- Persistent hiccups
- Prolonged bleeding
- Seizures
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling due to the body keeping in fluid (may be seen in the legs, ankles, and feet)
- Urination changes, such as little or no urine, excessive urination at night, or urination that stops completely
Once the cause is found, the goal of treatment is to help your kidneys work again and prevent fluid and waste from building up in your body while they heal. Usually, you will have to stay overnight in the hospital for treatment.
The amount of liquid you drink will be limited to the amount of urine you can produce. You will be told what you may and may not eat to reduce the buildup of toxins that the kidneys would normally remove. Your diet may need to be high in carbohydrates and low in protein, salt, and potassium.
You may need antibiotics to treat or prevent infection. Water pills (diuretics) may be used to help remove fluid from your body.
Medicines will be given through a vein to help control your blood potassium level.
You may need dialysis. This is a treatment that does what healthy kidneys normally do -- rid the body of harmful wastes, extra salt, and water. Dialysis can save your life if your potassium levels are dangerously high. Dialysis will also be used if:
- Your mental status changes
- You develop pericarditis (inflammation of the sac around the heart called the pericardium)
- You retain too much fluid
- You cannot remove nitrogen waste products from your body
Dialysis will most often be short term. In some cases, the kidney damage is so great that dialysis is needed permanently.
Suburban Geriatrics Inc
Robert Pearlstein is a primary care provider, practicing in Geriatrics and Internal Medicine in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania. Dr. Pearlstein is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Kidney Failure. He is also highly rated in 180 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Dementia, Alzheimer's Disease, Painful Swallowing, Gastrostomy, and Endoscopy. Dr. Pearlstein is board certified in . Dr. Pearlstein is currently accepting new patients.
East Tennessee Medical Associates, P.C.
Lara Kfoury is a Nephrologist practicing medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee. Dr. Kfoury is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Kidney Failure. She is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses Acute Kidney Failure, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Chronic Kidney Disease, and Nephrosclerosis. Dr. Kfoury is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine. Dr. Kfoury is currently accepting new patients.
Reading Nephrology Ltd
Parvaneh Abtahi is a Nephrologist practicing medicine in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania. Dr. Abtahi is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Acute Kidney Failure. She is also highly rated in 12 other conditions, according to our data. Her clinical expertise encompasses End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), Acute Kidney Failure, Low Sodium Level, and Chronic Kidney Disease. Dr. Abtahi is board certified in American Board Of Internal Medicine.
Contact your provider if your urine output slows or stops or you have other symptoms of acute kidney failure.
To prevent acute kidney failure:
- Health problems such as high blood pressure or diabetes should be well controlled.
- Avoid drugs and medicines that can cause kidney injury.
Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients and is associated with worse outcomes, including longer ICU stay, need for dialysis, and higher mortality. Patients with AKI often experience significant protein and calorie loss due to their illness and medical treatments. Providing the right amount of protein may help maintain muscle mass and improve recovery; however, consuming too ...
Summary: In Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT) often present a fluid overload which is associated with morbidity (mechanical ventilation duration increase, kidney recovery decrease) and mortality. Patients' prognostic could be improved by correcting the fluid overload with net ultrafiltration (UFnet) however it may lead to harm...
Published Date: April 30, 2026
Published By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Agarwal A, Barasch J. Acute kidney injury. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 106.
Oh MS, Briefel G, Pincus MR. Evaluation of renal function, water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 15.
Weisbord SD, Palevsky PM. Prevention and management of acute kidney injury. In: Luyckx VA, Chertow GM, Yu ASL, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 28.