Acute cortical necrosis

Acute kidney injury caused by ischemic necrosis of the renal cortex. Renal cortex is very sensitive to hypoxia.

Kidney – acute cortical necrosis

Causes[edit | edit source]

Acute cortical necrosis can be caused many factors including vascular disease, infections, autoimmune problems, trauma, alcohol, pregnancy, to name a few and include the following:

Acute tubular necrosis
Autoimmune kidney disease
Blood clot from cholesterol
Decreased blood flow due to very low blood pressure due to burns, dehydration, hemorrhage, injury, septic shock, serious illness, or surgery
Disorders that cause clotting within the kidney blood vessels
Infections that directly injure the kidney, such as acute pyelonephritis or septicemia
Pregnancy complications, including placenta abruption or placenta previa
Urinary tract blockage
Illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroine
Medicines including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), certain antibiotics and blood pressure medicines, intravenous contrast (dye), some cancer and HIV drugs

Renal cortical infarction showing coagulative necrosis

Symptoms[edit | edit source]

Bloody stools
Breath odor and metallic taste in the mouth
Bruising easily
Changes in mental status or mood
Decreased appetite
Fatigue or slow sluggish movements
Flank pain (between the ribs and hips)
High blood pressure
Nausea or vomiting, may last for days
Swelling due to the body keeping in fluid
Urination changes, such as little or no urine

Kidney ultrasound

Investigations[edit | edit source]

BUN
Creatinine clearance
Serum creatinine
Serum potassium
Urinalysis
USG of the kidneys
CT or MRI of the kidneys

Treatment[edit | edit source]

Treatment depends on the cause and rapid reversal of the cause can lead to full recovery.

Alternative Names[edit | edit source]

Diffuse bilateral renal cortical necrosis (BRCN)
Diffuse cortical necrosis
Acute cortical necrosis
Acute kidney failure with acute cortical necrosis

Health science - Medicine - Nephrology - edit
Diseases of the glomerulus
Lupus nephritis \| Post-infectious glomerulonephritis \| Minimal change disease \| Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis \| Diabetic nephropathy
Diseases of the proximal convoluted tubules
Fanconi syndrome (Type II renal tubular acidosis) \| renal cell carcinoma
Diseases of the distal convoluted tubules
pseudohypoaldosteronism (Type IV renal tubular acidosis)
Diseases of the collecting duct
Type I renal tubular acidosis
Tumours of the kidney
renal cell carcinoma \| Wilms' tumour (children)
Diseases of the renal vasculature
renal artery stenosis \| vasculitis \| atheroembolic disease
Tubulointerstitial diseases of the kidney
Drug-induced interstitial nephritis \| Obstructive nephropathy \| Radiation nephritis \| Reflux nephropathy \| Sarcoidosis
Genetic diseases of the kidney/syndromes associated with kidney dysfunction
Alport syndrome \| Polycystic kidney disease \| Wilms' tumour (children) von Hippel-Lindau syndrome \| Hereditary papillary renal carcinoma \| Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome \| Hereditary renal carcinoma
Genetic diseases of the kidney/syndromes associated with kidney dysfunction
Chronic Kidney Disease Anemia in CKD \| Causes of CKD \| CKD Overview \| CKD Tests and Diagnosis \| Diabetic Kidney Disease \| Eating Right for CKD \| High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease \| Managing CKD \| Mineral and Bone Disorder in CKD \| Nutrition for Advanced CKD in Adults \| Preventing CKD \| Quick Reference on UACR & GFR Kidney Failure Eating and Nutrition for Hemodialysis \| Financial Help for Treatment of Kidney Failure \| Hemodialysis \| Kidney Failure \| Kidney Transplant \| Peritoneal Dialysis Other Kidney Topics Acquired Cystic Kidney Disease \| Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease \| Diabetes Insipidus \| Ectopic Kidney \| Glomerular Diseases \| Goodpasture Syndrome \| Henoch-Schönlein Purpura \| IgA Nephropathy \| Kidney Dysplasia \| Kidney Infection (Pyelonephritis) \| Kidney Stones \| Lupus Nephritis \| Medullary Sponge Kidney \| Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults \| Pain Medicine and Kidney Damage \| Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) \| Renal Artery Stenosis \| Renal Tubular Acidosis \| Simple Kidney Cysts \| Solitary Kidney \| Your Kidneys and How They Work \| Your Urinary Tract and How It Works

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