Page Contents
OVERVIEW
This page is designed to organize content that is relevant to the topic of acute kidney injury (AKI). This term is used often in medicine, and it is important that we become as familiar as possible with it.
WHAT EXACTLY IS IT?
Before going any farther, let us make sure we clearly define the “medical problem”. AKI refers to the abrupt loss of kidney function that will result in the retention of urea and other nitrogenous waste products, while also causing dysregulation of extracellular volume and electrolytes. While there is not always consensus regarding how to SPECIFICALLY define AKI, there are some sets of criteria that are used.
RIFLE criteria:
AKIN criteria:
WHY IS IT A PROBLEM?
ORGANIZING THE DIFFERENTIAL
The differential diagnosis for AKI can be organized in a few different ways:
- Can’t miss diagnosis
- Organ systen
- Disease category
- Diagnostic modality
- Most common diagnosis
CLINICAL “WORKUP”
Now that the possible causes of AKI have been established, the focus can shift to how one would actually “work-up” a patient who presents with AKI.
Page Updated: 10.11.2016