title: Recent advances in the understanding of acute kidney injury.
abstract: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical entity associated with high morbidity and mortality and clinical costs. The pathophysiology is multifaceted and involves inflammation, tubular injury, and vascular damage. Recently identified components include necroptosis, a special form of cell death, and autophagy. Most of the pathophysiological knowledge is obtained from animal models but these do not directly reflect the reality of the clinical situation. Tubular cells have a remarkable capacity to regenerate, and the role of stem/progenitor cells is discussed. Acute kidney injury is frequently associated with chronic kidney disease, and the implications are widespread.
authors.affiliation: Division of Renal (Kidney) Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital 45 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115 USA.
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tögel
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Physiology University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT USA ; George E. Wahlen VA HSC Medical Center 500 Foothill Boulevard, Salt Lake City, UT 84148 USA.
authors.forename: Christof
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Westenfelder