Acute kidney injury is a sudden worsening of kidney function. The kidneys are a pair of organs that do many important jobs in the body, including:

• Make urine.

• Make hormones.

• Keep the right amount of fluids and chemicals in the body.

Common causes of this condition include:

• A problem with blood flow to the kidneys. This may be caused by:

  • Low blood pressure or shock.

  • Blood loss.

  • Heart and blood vessel disease.

  • Severe burns.

  • Liver disease.

• Direct damage to the kidneys. This may be caused by:

  • Certain medicines.

  • A kidney infection.

  • Poisoning.

  • Being around or in contact with toxic substances.

  • A wound from surgery.

  • A hard, direct hit to the kidney area.

• A sudden block in urine flow. This may be caused by:

  • Cancer.

  • Kidney stones.

  • An enlarged prostate.

This condition may not cause symptoms until it becomes severe. Symptoms can include:

• Feeling very tired or having trouble staying awake.

• Nausea or vomiting.

• Swelling (edema) of the face, legs, ankles, or feet.

• Pain in the belly or pain along the side of your stomach (flank).

• Urine changes, such as:

  • Making little or no urine.

  • Passing urine with a weak flow.

• Muscle twitches and cramps, most often in the legs.

• Confusion or trouble concentrating.

• Not feeling the urge to eat.

• Fever.

This condition may be diagnosed based on:

• Your symptoms.

• Your medical history.

• A physical exam.

You may have other tests, such as:

• Blood tests.

• Urine tests.

• Imaging tests.

• A kidney biopsy. This involves removing a sample of kidney tissue to be looked at under a microscope.

In severe cases, treatment may include:

• Treating the cause of the kidney injury. This may mean that you have to change your medicines or the doses you take.

• Getting fluids through an IV tube.

• Having a small, thin tube (catheter) put in. This tube will drain urine and prevent blockages.

• Trying to keep problems from starting. This may mean not using certain medicines or not having tests done that could cause more kidney injury.

In some cases, these treatments are also needed:

• Dialysis or continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This treatment uses a machine to do the job of the kidneys.

• Surgery. This may be done to repair a damaged kidney. It could also be done to remove a blockage in the urinary tract.

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.

• Do not take any new medicines unless approved by your health care provider. Many medicines can make kidney damage worse.

• Do not take any vitamin or mineral supplements unless approved by your health care provider. Some of these can make kidney damage worse.

Lifestyle

• Make changes to your diet as told by your health care provider. You may need to eat less protein.

• Get to, and stay at, a healthy weight. If you need help, ask your health care provider.

• Start or keep up an exercise plan. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.

• Do not smoke or use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.

General instructions

• Keep track of your blood pressure. Tell your health care provider if you notice any changes.

• Keep your vaccines up to date. Ask your health care provider which vaccines you need.

• Keep all follow-up visits.

These symptoms may be an emergency. Get help right away. Call 911.

• Do not wait to see if the symptoms will go away.

• Do not drive yourself to the hospital.