Acute renal failure is the sudden loss of the kidneys' ability to process and remove waste products from the blood. Symptoms include a decrease in urine output, swelling of the feet and ankles, elevated blood pressure and difficulty breathing due to fluid retention. Treatment includes identifying and treating the underlying cause. Kidney failure is potentially a life-threatening problem.
Dehydration
Dehydration occurs when the amount of fluids leaving the body exceed the amount of fluid intake. Fluids are lost through sweating, urination, vomiting and diarrhea. People most susceptible to dehydration include young children, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Complications of dehydration include seizures, brain swelling and renal failure. Immediate treatment requires replacing the lost fluids and electrolytes by drinking or by intravenous hydration.
Septic Shock
Septic shock is a life-threatening condition that occurs when a bacterial infection becomes systemic. Toxins released by the bacteria absorb into the tissues and reduce the blood volume, which causes inadequate blood flow to vital organs. Symptoms of septic shock include heart rhythm irregularities, shortness of breath, lethargy, chills, low blood pressure and reduced or no urine output. Medline Plus states that septic shock can affect the kidneys, heart, intestines, liver and brain. Immediate treatment is the only way to reduce the chance for complete organ failure and death.
Pre-Eclampsia
Pre-eclampsia, known as toxemia, is a type of high blood pressure during pregnancy that causes the blood vessels to constrict, reducing the circulation of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, untreated pre-eclampsia can cause the kidneys to fail and is most common in teenagers, women over 35 and first pregnancies. Symptoms of pre-eclampsia range from facial swelling and protein in the urine for mild pre-eclampsia, to constant headaches, nausea, vomiting, extreme swelling and shortness of breath in severe pre-eclampsia. The only complete treatment for pre-eclampsia is to end the pregnancy. The severity of the disease will determine when delivery must occur.
Renal Artery Stenosis
The kidneys, located below the rib cage on each side of the spine, receive blood through the renal arteries. One is attached to each kidney from the abdominal aorta. Plaque buildup inside the arteries causes hardening of the renal arteries, or atherosclerosis. As the plaque builds, the reduced blood supply causes damage to the kidney, making it less effective in removing the toxins from the blood.
Treatment for total kidney failure is dialysis or a kidney transplant, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
