Acute Renal Failure

Acute renal failure is often associated with toxins (such as ethylene glycol ingestion) or infectious diseases targeting the kidneys. Cardiac diseases such as valvular endocarditis and cardiomyopathy can lead to acute renal failure through thromboembolism of renal vessels. When disseminated intravascular coagulation and fibrinolysis occur, as sequelae to an underlying serious condition, the kidneys are generally affected by microthrombosis and hemorrhage. Acute renal failure is either reversible or irreversible depending on etiology, the rapidity with which a diagnosis is made, and whether effective treatment is available and instituted. Animals with acute renal failure may be oliguric or anuric, rather than polyuric, at the time of diagnosis. Biochemical abnormalities are similar to well-advanced chronic renal failure, although history, clinical findings, and the absence of nonregenerative anemia from erythropoietin lack, may help differentiate acute and chronic renal disease.