Introduction

Acute kidney injury(AKI) is sudden damage to the kidneys that causes them to not work properly. It can range from minor loss of kidney function to complete kidney failure.

AKI normally happens as a complication of another serious illness. It's not the result of a physical blow to the kidneys, as the name might suggest.

This type of kidney damage is usually seen in older people who are unwell with other conditions and the kidneys are also affected.

It's essential that AKI is detected early and treated promptly. The role of the kidneys is to:

  • filter removing waste and water from the blood (as urine, via the bladder)
  • clean the blood
  • keep the bones healthy
  • look after blood pressure
  • stimulate the bone marrow to make blood

Without quick treatment, abnormal levels of salts and chemicals can build up in the body, which affects the ability of other organs to work properly.

If the kidneys shut down completely, this may require temporary support from a dialysis machine, or lead to death.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 30 Nov 2016