The Symptoms of Acute Kidney Injury and What to Watch Out For

The use of anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly prescribed for conditions like gout and chronic pain, has been linked to sudden kidney injuries. One important thing to keep in mind is that this type of AKI is more common in people who are already dealing with high blood pressure.

Hypertension can significantly sabotage the functioning of the kidneys, specifically its glomerular filtration rate – an important measure determining blood flow through the kidneys. This compromised function effectively results in diminished blood flow, escalating one's risk towards AKI. This is where it's important to stress that reduced glomerular filtration rate isn't the only cause of kidney failure, but it is a major factor and often shows up in many AKI cases.

Nevertheless, incidents of AKI aren't strictly confined to those suffering from hypertension or long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs. The root causes may diverge considerably among different patients, involving factors such as infection, obstruction, or even trauma. Moreover, the shift from acute kidney damage to complete renal failure could occur swiftly and surreptitiously without conspicuous symptoms manifesting themselves.

Unchecked progression might result in irreversible damage, lending greater weight to vigilant monitoring besides prompt medical attention.

Acute kidney injury, also known as AKI or acute kidney failure, presents a variety of symptoms. The causes and symptoms are linked in a complex way, and if the reasons aren't treated, they can turn into symptoms that get worse. If you have AKI, the first signs you might notice are less urine output, fluid buildup that causes leg swelling, and general tiredness.

Even though these symptoms appear often, they can get worse if you don't get medical care, which can lead to the dangerous territory of end-stage kidney disease.

In the worst cases, AKI leads to a decline in kidney health, which can be seen as shortness of breath, feeling lost, feeling sick, and having chest pain. Also, some factors can worsen this condition, like taking certain medications, getting sepsis, or having a blockage in the urinary stream. These all need to be found and fixed quickly.

A quick evaluation is very important for both keeping the kidneys healthy and making sure that the treatment plan for AKI works well. It's important to note that complications from AKI that aren't diagnosed or treated can lead to serious health problems. Because of this, early diagnosis and quick action are required to stop the damage that leads to chronic or acute kidney failure.

To correctly diagnose AKI, a full medical evaluation is needed. This includes a full patient history, a physical check, and necessary diagnostic tests. For people with AKI, the threat of kidney disease is very legitimate, so figuring out exactly what the kidney problem is becomes very important. As part of the initial investigation, blood and urine tests, imaging procedures, and sometimes a renal biopsy may be recommended. Making the right diagnosis is very important for coming up with the right treatment plan to stop acute kidney damage from getting worse.

Dr Alvin Ng is a nephrologist in Singapore with more than 20 years of experience. He specialises in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of kidney conditions and is committed to providing comprehensive, personalised and evidence-based care for patients with kidney disease.

Prior to private practice, Dr Ng served as a consultant nephrologist at Changi General Hospital, where he was Director of the Peritoneal Dialysis Service and a member of the MOH Peritoneal Dialysis Workgroup. He has also held leadership roles within the Singapore Society of Nephrology and has been actively involved in the education of medical students, junior doctors and specialist trainees. His contributions to patient care, medical education and professional service have been recognised through multiple awards.