Kidney failure is a common condition that could also be described as acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney failure (CKD). Both conditions occur when a kidney is lost. function. Kidney disease or kidney failure is the ninth leading cause of death in the United States (Pradeep, 2014). Specifically, acute kidney failure is characterized by the sudden inability of the kidney to filter blood, excrete waste, concentrate urine, preserve electrolytes, and maintain fluid balance, resulting in many problems in the human body. Acute renal failure alone is a common clinical problem, particularly in the intensive care unit, where according to Clin (2004), “is associated with mortality of between 50% and 80%” (p5). Regarding the pathophysiology of acute renal failure, insufficient blood supply to an organ, ischemia plays an important role. If a person experiences ischemia for more than 2 hours, it can lead to irreversible damage to the kidneys. A significant reduction in glommular filtration rate (GFR) is the result of ischemia, activation of the renin-angiotensin system, and tubular obstruction by cellular debris. As nephrotoxins damage tubular cells and these same cells are lost to necrosis, the tubules become more permeable, leading to filtrate absorption and a reduction in the ability of nephrons to remove waste products. There are three causes of kidney failure: prerenal, intrarenal and postrenal. Prerenal disorders occur before the nephron and are used to refer to any disturbance in the cardiovascular side of the nephron. Anything that originates from the circulatory blood supply of the nephron and impairs its function is classified as prerenal. In intrarenal disorders, the problem originates from within the nephron tubules themselves, ...... middle of article ...... re: definitions, diagnosis, pathogenesis and therapy. Retrieved from: http://www.jci. org/articles/view/22353Hemodialysis: How diet can help - MedicineNet. (nd). Retrieved from http://www.medicinenet.com/hemodialysis/article.htmMembrane Complex by Professional Formulas | Alchemist laboratory store. (nd). Retrieved from http://store.alchemistlab.com/products/membrane-complexMitch WE (2012). . Chronic kidney disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Cecil Medicine by Goldman. 24th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2012: ch. 132. Pradeep, A. (2014). Chronic kidney disease. Retrieved from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/238798-overviewRENAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGY - Kennesaw State University College of... (nd). Retrieved from http://science.kennesaw.edu/~bodavis/LECT12.PDF