Key Terms

acute kidney injury (AKI)

a decrease in kidney function that has an abrupt onset and is possibly reversible, manifested by decreased urine output and/or increased serum creatinine; previously known as acute renal failure

ascites

abnormal fluid present between the peritoneum and the abdominal organs

chronic renal disease (CRD)

a state of progressive decline of kidney function from a glomerular filtration rate of 59 mL/minute/1.73 m² to a glomerular filtration rate of less than 15 mL/minute/1.73 m²

diuretic braking

a progressive decrease in urinary output after repeated doses of loop diuretics

diuretic resistance

the state in which the maximum dose of a loop diuretic fails to produce the anticipated effect on fluid volume status because successive doses of the drug trigger hypertrophy of the distal tubule, increasing sodium reabsorption

end-stage renal disease (ESRD)

the condition that exists when the glomerular filtration rate falls below 15 mL/minute/1.73 m²

glomerular filtration rate

the rate at which the kidneys filter blood; indicates kidney function

hyperkalemia

serum potassium level greater than 5.2 mEq/L

hypernatremia

serum sodium level greater than 145 mEq/L

hypervolemia

body fluid overload, which includes excess fluid volume and edema

hypokalemia

serum potassium level less than 3.5 mEq/L

hyponatremia

serum sodium level less than 135 mEq/L

hypovolemia

decreased extracellular fluid volume associated with sodium and water loss

loop diuretics

drugs that interrupt the reabsorption of sodium and water in the loop of Henle, resulting in increased urinary output

nephrotic syndrome

a group of renal alterations that result in abnormal renal excretion of large amounts of protein

nocturia

the need to frequently void during the night, interrupting sleep

osmotic diuretics

drugs that draw fluid from the cells by increasing osmotic pressure

ototoxicity

temporary or permanent damage to the inner ear due to drug therapy

potassium-sparing diuretics

drugs that interrupt sodium and water reabsorption while retaining potassium and increasing urinary output

sodium–potassium–chloride cotransporter (Na-K-2Cl or NKCC2)

a protein that facilitates transport of sodium, potassium, and chloride into cells

thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics

drugs that increase urinary output by reabsorbing sodium and retaining potassium in the nephron