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RENAL FAILURE RESOURCE CENTER
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Acute renal failure (ARF) is defined as an abrupt or rapid decline in renal function. A rise in serum blood urea nitrogen or serum creatinine concentrations, with or without a decrement in urine output, usually is evidence of ARF. The condition often is transient and completely reversible.
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The causes of acute renal failure (ARF) are conventionally and conveniently divided into 3 categories: prerenal, renal, and postrenal. Prerenal ARF involves an essentially normal kidney that is responding to hypoperfusion by decreasing the glomerular filtration rate. Renal or intrinsic ARF refers to a condition in which the pathology lies within the kidney itself. Postrenal failure is caused by an obstruction of the urinary tract. Acute tubular necrosis is the most common cause of ARF in the renal category. |
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Chronic renal failure (CRF) is characterized by progressive destruction of renal mass with irreversible sclerosis and loss of nephrons over a period of at least months to many years, depending on the underlying etiology. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) progressively decreases with nephron loss, and the term CRF should be reserved more specifically for patients whose GFR is less than 30 cc/min. |
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Chronic renal failure requiring dialysis or transplantation is known as end-stage renal disease. In the United States, diabetic nephropathy, hypertension, and glomerulonephritis cause approximately 75% of all adult cases. Certain geographic areas have a high incidence of HIV nephropathy. |
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