A 65-year-old male patient presents with sudden onset of oliguria and signs of dehydration His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, heart rate is 110 bpm and he has poor skin turgor. Laboratory results show elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN and creatinine levels. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his acute kidney injury (AKI)?
Hypovolemia leading to decreased renal perfusion
Acute tubular necrosis
Urinary tract obstruction
Chronic kidney disease
The Correct Answer is A
A. Hypovolemia leading to decreased renal perfusion. Hypovolemia from dehydration and low blood pressure reduces blood flow to the kidneys, resulting in pre-renal AKI, characterized by elevated BUN and creatinine.
B. Acute tubular necrosis. Acute tubular necrosis may cause AKI but is often due to prolonged hypoperfusion, nephrotoxic drugs, or ischemia, not the immediate presentation seen here.
C. Urinary tract obstruction. A urinary tract obstruction leads to post-renal AKI, often with symptoms like flank pain or difficulty urinating, not dehydration and low blood pressure.
D. Chronic kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease is a long-term condition and would not cause the acute symptoms or sudden onset of AKI as seen in this patient.
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Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. The glomerular filtration rate decreases because there is a reduction of blood flow to the kidneys. Reduced blood flow to the kidneys, or renal hypoperfusion, decreases the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) because less blood is being filtered through the kidneys. This can occur in conditions such as shock, severe dehydration, or heart failure, but it is not the primary mechanism in acute tubular necrosis (ATN).
B. The glomerular filtration rate decreases because there is injury to the renal tubular cells. In ATN, the injury to renal tubular cells impairs their function, leading to reduced reabsorption and filtration ability, which contributes to the decrease in GFR.
C. The glomerular filtration rate decreases because inflammatory cells invade the already damaged kidneys. While inflammation may be present, it is not the primary cause of decreased GFR in acute tubular necrosis; reduced blood flow and tubular cell injury are more direct causes.
D. The glomerular filtration rate decreases because there is obstruction leading to the filtration system backing up and eventually shutting the kidneys down. Obstruction is not typically a characteristic of acute tubular necrosis; ATN is usually caused by ischemic or toxic injury, not physical obstruction.
Correct Answer is B
Explanation
A. The gallbladder became infected by a virus and needs to be removed. Gallstones are not caused by viral infections; they typically develop from an imbalance in the substances that make up bile, such as cholesterol and bilirubin.
B. The gallbladder has become inflamed due to the cholesterol in the gallstones. Cholesterol is a common component of gallstones, and these stones can cause inflammation of the gallbladder (cholecystitis), leading to the need for removal.
C. The gallbladder has become blocked by a tumor and is no longer working. Tumors can obstruct the gallbladder, but this is not the cause of gallstones or the primary reason for a cholecystectomy.
D. The gallbladder has become inflamed due to a build-up of gallstones that are blocking the common bile duct. This describes choledocholithiasis, a condition where gallstones block the common bile duct, but it is not the primary cause of gallbladder inflammation requiring a cholecystectomy.