Production and elimination of urine require three physiologic events
AKI can be caused by pre-renal, intrinsic, or post-renal factors
Pre-renal AKI can be caused by decreased perfusion of the kidneys
Intrinsic AKI can be caused by acute tubular necrosis, glomerulonephritis, acute interstitial nephritis, and others
Certain drugs can cause acute tubular necrosis
Post-renal AKI is caused by obstruction of urinary outflow downstream of the kidney
Laboratory evaluation includes quantifying glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
Estimated GFR (eGFR) is widely used to determine baseline kidney function and monitor progression of kidney disease
Ideal marker for eGFR should be a nontoxic substance that is freely filtered at the glomerulus
Inulin and exogenous radioactive markers are used to assess GFR but are not readily available to clinicians and require IV administration.

Are you interested in learning more about the physiology of urine production and elimination, as well as the various factors that can lead to acute kidney injury (AKI)? This quiz covers key concepts such as pre-renal, intrinsic, and post-renal causes of AKI, as well as lab evaluations like quantifying glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and using estimated GFR (eGFR) to monitor kidney function. Test your knowledge and learn more about these important topics!