Pathogenesis of acute kidney injury

Abstract

The sudden loss of renal function that may result from inadequate renal perfusion, arterial or venous obstruction, renal cell injury, or acute obstruction to urine flow historically has been termed acute renal failure (ARF). Several years ago the term acute kidney injury (AKI) was proposed to replace the term ARF [1]. Usage of “AKI” is now widespread. Unfortunately it is often used imprecisely, defeating the purpose of the change in nomenclature.