Renal failure

The loss of kidney function to filter waste from the blood and unable to maintain adequate excretory, regulatory, and endocrine functions, resulting in accumulation of nitrogenous waste products, dysregulation of fluid and electrolyte balance, and altered acid-base homeostasis. Common causes of chronic renal failure are diabetes, hypertension, hereditary polycystic kidney disease, and glomerulonephritis. Common causes of acute renal failure are reduced renal perfusion (dehydration, hemorrhage, heart failure, septic shock), toxicity (NSAIDs, antibiotics, contrast, heavy metals), and postrenal obstruction (urolithiasis, BPH, prostate cancer).