SPECTRUM OF ACUTE RENAL FAILURE IN A SERVICE HOSPITAL.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Critical Care Medicine
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Acute renal failure (ARF) presents a significant clinical challenge with diverse etiologies.
• Understanding the demographic profile and etiological spectrum of ARF is crucial for effective management.
• Previous studies highlight varying incidence and causes of ARF across different populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively investigate the etiological factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of acute renal failure.
• To determine the proportion of patients requiring renal replacement therapy and associated mortality.
• To identify key risk factors and common causes contributing to ARF in the studied cohort.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study was conducted on 82 patients diagnosed with acute renal failure over a two-year period.
• Data collected included patient demographics, underlying causes of ARF, treatment modalities, and patient outcomes.
• Etiological factors were categorized, and the need for dialysis and continuous arterio-venous haemofiltration was recorded.

Main Results:

• The mean age of patients was 35.6 years, with a male to female ratio of 3.5:1.
• Leading causes of ARF included septicemia (21.95%), aminoglycoside toxicity (19.51%), and volume depletion/blood loss (14.63%).
• Overall mortality was 32.5%, with septicemia accounting for 60% of deaths; 65.8% of patients required dialysis.

Conclusions:

• Septicemia and drug toxicity are significant contributors to acute renal failure.
• Prompt recognition and management of underlying causes, particularly infections, are vital to reduce ARF-related mortality.
• Further research into preventative strategies and optimized treatment protocols for ARF is warranted.