Signs and Tests

Examination and testing can reveal acute renal failure and help rule out other disorders that affect kidney function. There is generalized edema (swelling) from fluid retention. With a stethoscope, a heart murmor or other sounds related to increased fluid volume may be heard and crackles may be heard from the lungs.

Lab values may change suddenly (within a few days to 2 weeks):

• Urinalysis may be abnormal.
• Serum creatinine may increase by 2 mg/dL or more over a 2 week period.
• Creatinine clearance may be decreased.
• BUN may increase suddenly.
• Serum potassium levels may be increased.
• Arterial blood gas and blood chemistries may show metabolic acidosis.
• Kidney or abdominal ultrasound is usually the best test, but abdominal X-ray, abdominal CT scan, or abdominal MRI may also reveal the cause of the acute renal failure. Kidney size is usually normal or slightly large.
• Chemical tests of blood and urine may help to distinguish the causes. A clean catch urine specimen will indicate if the cause is infection within the urinary tract. Renal angiography (renal arteriography) may be used to diagnose causes within the blood vessels of the kidney.

• 25-hydroxy Vitamin D
• amylase
• amylase, urine
• AST
• calcium (ionized)
• CO2
• creatinine - urine
• ESR
• nerve conduction velocity
• platelet aggregation test
• protein electrophoresis - urine
• RBC indices
• RT3U
• serum calcium
• serum chloride
• serum phosphorus
• serum sodium
• sodium, urine
• T4
• urea nitrogen; urine
• uric acid
• urinary casts
• urine 24h volume
• urine concentration test
• urine pH
• urine specific gravity

Ency. home > Disease > A > Acute renal failure

[an error occurred while processing this directive]