Post-renal acute renal failure
Post-renal acute renal failure (ARF) occurs when an obstruction in the urinary tract below the kidneys causes waste to build up in the kidneys
. Post-renal acute renal failure accounts for about 5% of acute renal failure cases.1
A blockage in the urinary tract
- Kidney stones
- An enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH). An enlarged prostate
- A bladder that doesn't empty properly. This may be caused by certain nervous system disorders, such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or Parkinson's disease.
- Blood clots in the ureters or urethra.
- Cancer of the prostate, cervix, or colon.
Post-renal acute renal failure requires immediate treatment. When detected early, it usually can be reversed by removing or bypassing the obstruction in the urinary tract, before any permanent damage to the kidneys occurs. Most people regain normal kidney function if the condition is reversed promptly.
If the obstruction is not relieved, the waste buildup and pressure on the kidneys may damage kidney tissue. Post-renal acute renal failure is much more difficult to reverse after damage to the kidneys has occurred.
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS | Last Updated: July 31, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine D.C. Mendelssohn, MD, FRCPC - Nephrology Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine | |
 | ||
| |