Acute renal failure: definition, epidemiology and prognosis

摘要: Acute renal failure (ARF) remains one of the major therapeutic challenges for critical care physicians and nephrologists. The term describes a syndrome characterized by rapid (hours to days) decrease in kidney’s ability eliminate waste products, regulate extracellular volume maintain electrolyte acid-base homeostasis. Such loss excretory function is clinically manifested accumulation end products nitrogen metabolism (e.g. urea creatinine) that are easily routinely measured critically ill patients. Other typical clinical manifestations ARF include decreased urine output (though not always present), non-volatile acids an increased serum potassium concentration.