Education - Renal

Pada minggu lepas, memang sedih gila kena bantai dengan lecturer. Fine lah dah final year tapi soalan simple camni teragak2 nak jawab. Actually dah di ajar tapi lupa! Jadi mari refresh balik tentang renal! Jangan give up ok ^_^

How to differentiate between Acute & Chronic Renal / Kidney failure

1. Consider time frames
ARF occurs suddenly & is marked by a sudden decline in kidney fx.
CRF is a progressive / continuous deterioration of kidney fx.

2. Consider what may be the cause

ARF can be caused by a sudden decrease in blood flow 
i.e shock, blood loss, burns / hypovolemia, obstruction to urinary flow anywhere along the urinary tract & from injury to the kidneys due to toxins, immunologic processes & systemic & vascular disorders.

CRF may be caused by prolonged hypertension, DM, hereditary kidney disease (polycistic kidney disease, developmental / congenital disorders). Obviously most of these causes are in themselves chronic conditions that people have to live with, which could then lead to CRF.

3. Which one may require a kidney transplant?

ARF does not require a KT but CRF may require a KT because the damage is progressive.

4. Which one can be cured?

ARF is reversible therefore it can be cured. While CRF is irreversible hence the need for dialysis / KT.

5. Clearly it can be seen that the acute form comes & after a short time goes away but the chronic one stays & causes damage as time goes on & eventually can cause death in the absence of tx.