genitourinary disorders
Acute Tubular Necrosis (ATN)
Introduction
Acute tubular necrosis (ATN) is Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) characterized by acute tubular cell injury and dysfunction. Common causes are hypotension or sepsis that causes renal hypoperfusion and nephrotoxic medications. The condition is asymptomatic unless it causes renal failure. The diagnosis is suspected when azotemia develops after a hypotensive event, severe sepsis, or medication exposure and is distinguished from prerenal azotemia by laboratory testing and response to volume expansion. Treatment is supportive. (See also Overview of Tubulointerstitial Diseases .) 