Table 2 Etiologies of AKI
From: Practical approach to detection and management of acute kidney injury in critically ill patient
Prerenal AKI |
 • Dehydration (vomiting, diarrhea)  • Bleeding or hypovolemia  • Heart failure  • Liver failure  • Narrowing of renal arteries  • Renal microangiopathy  • Exposure to vasoactive drugs |
Renal AKI |
 • Acute tubular injury/toxicity   • Drugs (common in ICU)   • Aminoglycosides, vancomycin   • Amphotericin B, pentamidine   • Contrast dyes   • Bisphosphonates   • Cisplatin, ifosfamide, methotrexate (crystal nephropathy)   • Tumor lysis syndrome   • Multiple myeloma   • Rhabdomyolysis (crush injury, cocaine, heroin, ketamine, methadone, and methamphetamine)   • Tissue hypoperfusion, sepsis  • Acute interstitial nephritis    • Vancomycin, quinolones, rifampin, sulfonamides, β-lactams (penicillin, cephalosporins), acyclovir (crystal nephropathy)    • NSAIDs    • Ifosfamide, carboplatin, Adriamycin, tyrosine kinase inhibitor |
Post-renal AKI reflects the obstruction of the urinary system, particularly the ureters. |