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Your kidneys:
Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys stop working, most often because of chronic kidney disease causing damage over time. But acute kidney injury happens suddenly.
Other health problems can cause acute kidney injury and failure.
Issues that can cause low blood pressure include:
This is often due to chronic disease that causes inflammation and scarring in your kidney.
Other diseases or even some medicine can also cause direct damage to the kidney.
Issues that can block the flow of urine include:
Factors that may increase your risk for acute kidney injury include:
Complications linked to acute kidney injury include:
Recovery from kidney injury depends on what caused the damage and your overall health.
At the UPMC Kidney Disease Center:
After treatment, your kidneys may fully heal. In some cases, acute kidney injury may cause permanent damage and require more advanced treatment.
Call your doctor if you suffer from:
If your doctor thinks acute kidney injury is the cause of your signs and symptoms, they'll refer you to a nephrologist.
Your kidney doctor will order a series of tests, including:
At the UPMC Kidney Disease Center, we'll work with you to find a reversible cause of your acute kidney injury. Then we'll design a treatment plan based on that cause.
If diagnosed early, acute kidney injury treatments include:
For cases where injury has led to kidney failure, we'll help you decide the best treatment for you such as:
No matter the cause of your kidney injury, you have hope at the UPMC Kidney Disease Center. We're here to help you return to a healthy life.
To learn more about kidney disease:
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