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Subacute Kidney Injury: What You Need to Know
Published: Oct 02, 2023
Subacute kidney injury is a slow-developing condition that affects kidney function over weeks. This article will help demystify its symptoms, causes, and evaluation.
Understanding Subacute Kidney Injury
Subacute kidney injury develops more slowly than acute kidney injury, generally over weeks, leading to worsening creatinine levels. Unlike acute kidney injury, which occurs in hours to days, subacute kidney injury often presents itself in outpatient settings. Recognizing the duration of kidney issues can help narrow down the possible causes and inform treatment strategies.
Major Causes of Subacute Kidney Injury
Subacute kidney injury can be categorized into prerenal, intrinsic, or postrenal causes. Prerenal issues usually involve decreased blood flow to the kidneys, while intrinsic problems may relate to the kidney's structures themselves. Postrenal causes often involve urinary obstructions. Each of these categories can overlap, making diagnosis complex.
Clinical Manifestations and Symptoms
Many patients with subacute kidney injury show no symptoms and are diagnosed through lab tests showing elevated creatinine. When symptoms do appear, they might include edema, hypertension, or decreased urine output. Severe symptoms are rare in subacute cases and usually indicate acute or advanced chronic kidney disease.
Evaluating Subacute Kidney Injury
Diagnosis involves careful patient history, physical exams, and tests like urinalysis and kidney ultrasounds. The results of these tests help in determining the underlying cause. Understanding the creatinine trend over time is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's a condition where kidney function decreases over weeks, not days.
Causes include decreased kidney blood flow, intrinsic kidney issues, or urinary obstructions.
Symptoms may include high blood pressure, swelling, and reduced urine, but many have no symptoms.
Diagnosis involves history, physical exams, urinalysis, and imaging tests.
Creatinine levels help track kidney function and disease progression.
Wrapping Up
Subacute kidney injury is a complex condition that requires careful evaluation to manage effectively.
References
- Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Acute Kidney Injury Work Group. KDIGO Clinical Practice Guideline for Acute Kidney Injury. Kidney Int Suppl 2012; 2:1.
- Lameire NH, Levin A, Kellum JA, et al. Harmonizing acute and chronic kidney disease definition and classification: report of a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Consensus Conference. Kidney Int 2021; 100:516.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic. Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.
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