title: Clinical approach to rapidly progressive renal failure.
abstract: Rapidly progressive renal failure (RPRF) is an initial clinical diagnosis in patients who present with progressive renal impairment of short duration. The underlying etiology may be a primary renal disease or a systemic disorder. Important differential diagnoses include vasculitis (systemic or renal-limited), systemic lupus erythematosus, multiple myeloma, thrombotic microangiopathy and acute interstitial nephritis. Good history taking, clinical examination and relevant investigations including serology and ultimately kidney biopsy are helpful in clinching the diagnosis. Early definitive diagnosis of RPRF is essential to reverse the otherwise relentless progression to end-stage kidney disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: Dipankar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhowmik
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Ankur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gupt
authors.forename: Suresh C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Tiwari
authors.forename: Sanjay K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Agarwal
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors