Acute Kidney Injury

Abstract

AKI has replaced the term ARF is clinical practice because, the word 'Kidney" is more familiar to public than the word 'renal" and intervention is to be done at the stage of injury to prevent failure. AKI is very common in hospitalized patients (5%), especially in critically ill (25-30%). It is an independent risk factor for mortality, associated with a mortality of 50-90% when dialysis is required. Recent studies have shown that AKI is associated with an increase long term risk of subsequent development of CVD or CKD and mortality, even after apparent resolution of AKI. AKI is common, harmful and potentially treatable. Even a minor acute reaction in Kidney function has an adverse prognosis.