Pediatric Acute Tubular Necrosis Differential Diagnoses

  • Author: Prasad Devarajan, MD; Chief Editor: Craig B Langman, MD   more...
 
Updated: Mar 29, 2011
 
 

Diagnostic Considerations

Although oliguria is a criterion used to diagnose and stage acute renal failure (ARF), ARF can be present without oliguria, especially in patients with nephrotoxic kidney injury, interstitial nephritis, or perinatal asphyxia.[27, 28] Oliguria may be defined as urine output less than 1 mL/kg/h in children and less than 400 mL/d in adults.

Differential Diagnoses

Proceed to Workup
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Prasad Devarajan, MD  Louise M Williams Endowed Chair in Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics and Developmental Biology, Director of Nephrology and Hypertension, Director of Clinical Nephrology Laboratories, Chief Executive Officer of Dialysis Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Prasad Devarajan, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Heart Association, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Richard Neiberger, MD, PhD  Director of Pediatric Renal Stone Disease Clinic, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Nephrology, University of Florida College of Medicine and Shands Hospital

Richard Neiberger, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation for Medical Research, American Medical Association, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, Christian Medical & Dental Society, Florida Medical Association, International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis, International Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, New York Academy of Sciences, Shock Society, Sigma Xi, Southern Medical Association, Southern Society for Pediatric Research, and Southwest Pediatric Nephrology Study Group

Disclosure: The Osler Institute Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Adrian Spitzer, MD  Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Director of NIH Training Program, Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center

Adrian Spitzer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation for Medical Research, American Pediatric Society, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Craig B Langman, MD  The Isaac A Abt, MD, Professor of Kidney Diseases, Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine; Division Head of Kidney Diseases, Children's Memorial Hospital

Craig B Langman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society of Nephrology, and International Society of Nephrology

Disclosure: Merck Grant/research funds None; NIH Grant/research funds None; Raptor Pharmaceuticals, Inc Grant/research funds None; Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Grant/research funds None

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Previous
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Common causes of oliguric versus nonoliguric acute renal failure in children.
Metabolic alterations in tubule cells following acute tubular necrosis.
Compensatory mechanisms that maintain glomerular filtration rate despite a reduction in renal perfusion pressure.
Pathogenesis of acute tubular necrosis (macrovascular changes).
Alterations in tubule cell morphology in acute tubular necrosis.
Table. Urinary Indexes in Acute Tubular Necrosis vs Prerenal Failure
ATNPrerenal
Urine specific gravity1010>1020
Urine sodium (mEq/L)>40< 10
Urine/plasma creatinine< 20>40
FENa (%)>2< 1
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