Acute Kidney Injury: The Daily PANCE Blueprint
Which of the following is the most common cause of acute kidney injury globally?
A. Pigment injury
B. Aminoglycosides
C. Interstitial nephritis
D. Obstructive uropathy
E. Sepsis
Answer and topic summary
The answer is E. Sepsis
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a very common condition characterized by an acute decline in renal function manifested by an increase in serum creatinine with or without reduced urine output. It can be broken up into 3 main etiologies: pre-renal, intrinsic, and post-renal. The most common causes of AKI vary by setting, but sepsis/severe infection and prerenal azotemia (from volume depletion) are the two most common. Common lab abnormalities seen include a high anion-gap metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia, and elevated serum creatinine. Nephrotoxic agents, such as NSAIDs, aminoglycosides, vancomycin, and ACEI/ARBs should be avoided in an acute kidney injury. Treatment is typically managing the underlying cause (e.g., fluid resuscitation if hypovolemic), plus correcting acid-base and electrolyte issues. Some patients may end up needing dialysis though their kidney function does not improve.
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Smarty PANCE Content Blueprint Review:
Covered under ⇒ PANCE Blueprint Renal System ⇒
