Acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease are two types of kidney failures. Renal failure is caused by kidneys that aren’t working as they should. Therefore, renal failure occurs when there is a reduction in the kidneys’ ability to sufficiently filter waste products from the blood as they should. It can be mainly categorized into acute and chronic types.
The key difference between acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease is their cause. Acute renal failure occurs suddenly due to a renal insult, while chronic kidney disease occurs gradually as a result of chronic illnesses such as diabetes and hypertension.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Acute Renal Failure
3. What is Chronic Kidney Disease
4. Similarities – Acute Renal Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease
5. Acute Renal Failure vs Chronic Kidney Disease in Tabular Form
6. FAQ – Acute Renal Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease
7. Summary – Acute Renal Failure vs Chronic Kidney Disease
What is Acute Renal Failure?
Acute renal failure happens when the kidneys suddenly can’t filter waste products from the blood. It can be caused by slowed blood flow to the kidneys, damage to the kidneys, and urine blockage in the kidneys. The symptoms of acute renal failure may include low urine output, fluid up, tiredness, confusion, nausea, pain, weakness, irregular heartbeat, irregular heartbeat, itching, loss of appetite, chest pain, and seizures.

Figure 01: Acute Renal Failure
Doctors might use tests such as physical symptoms evaluation, blood test, urine out measures, urine test, imaging test and tissue biopsy to diagnose acute kidney injury. Furthermore, treatment options for acute kidney injury include intravenous fluid (IV), medicine to control potassium (potassium binders), medicine to restore calcium level (calcium infusion), and removing poison from the blood.
What is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease involves a gradual loss of kidney function. Diseases that cause chronic kidney disease include type and type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, interstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis, an inflammation of the kidney’s tubules and surrounding structures, polycystic kidney disease, prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract, vesicoureteral reflux, and recurrent kidney infection. Moreover, the symptoms of chronic kidney disease may include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, urinating more or less, fatigue, sleep problems, decreased mental sharpness, swelling of feet and ankles, muscle cramps, high blood pressure, dry, itchy skin, shortness of breath, and chest pain.

Figure 02: Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation, blood test, urine test, imaging test, and tissue biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for chronic kidney disease may include high blood pressure medications, swelling reliving medications, anemia reducing medications, cholesterol lowering medications, calcium and vitamin D supplement, a lower protein diet to minimize waste products and surgeries.
Similarities Between Acute Renal Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease
- Acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease are two types of kidney failures.
- Acute kidney failure can result in chronic kidney disease if not treated properly.
- Both can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation, blood tests, imaging tests, and biopsy.
- They can be treated with medicines and some therapies.
Difference Between Acute Renal Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease
Definition
- Acute renal failure is a type of kidney failure that stops working suddenly.
- Chronic kidney disease is a type of renal failure that causes the kidney to lose its function gradually.
Reversible/ Irreversible
- Acute renal failure is reversible.
- Chronic kidney disease is irreversible.
Causes
- Acute renal failure is caused by slowed blood flow to the kidney, damage to the kidneys, and urine blockage in the kidneys.
- Chronic kidney disease is caused by underlying conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis, interstitial nephritis, an inflammation of the kidney’s tubules and surrounding structures, polycystic kidney disease, prolonged obstruction of the urinary tract, vesicoureteral reflux and recurrent kidney infection.
Symptoms
- The symptoms of acute renal failure include decreased urine output, edema, dyspnea, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, irregular heartbeats, chest pain, confusion, and seizures.
- The symptoms of chronic renal failure may include a need to urinate often, tiredness, loss of appetite, bubbly pee, dry and itchy skin, trouble concentrating, trouble sleeping, numbness, nausea, high blood pressure, and darkening of the skin.
Diagnosis
- Acute renal failure can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation, blood test, urine out measures, urine test, imaging test and tissue biopsy.
- Chronic kidney disease can be diagnosed through physical symptoms evaluation, blood test, urine test, imaging test and tissue biopsy.
Treatment
- Treatment options for acute kidney injury include intravenous fluid (IV), medicines like potassium binders, giving medicine to restore calcium level and removing poison from the blood.
- Treatment options for chronic kidney disease may include medications like ACE inhibitors, phosphate binders, diuretics, lowering cholesterol, erythropoietin, vitamin D and calcium, dialysis, and kidney transplant.
The following table summarizes the difference between acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease.
Summary – Acute Renal Failure vs Chronic Kidney Disease
Renal failure is when the kidneys no longer work properly. Kidney failure can be either acute or chronic. Acute renal failure happens when the kidney stops working suddenly, while chronic kidney disease happens when the kidney loses its function gradually. Moreover, acute renal failure is reversible, whereas chronic kidney disease is irreversible. This summarizes the difference between acute renal failure and chronic kidney disease.
FAQ: Acute Renal Failure and Chronic Kidney Disease
1. What is the acute renal failure?
- Acute renal failure occurs suddenly and is characterized by a rapid loss of the kidneys’ ability to excrete waste, concentrate urine, conserve electrolytes, and maintain fluid balance. It is a common clinical problem among individuals in intensive care units.
2. What is the cause of AKI?
- The three major causes of acute renal failure include a lack of blood flow to the kidneys, a blockage in urine flow leading to infections, or direct kidney damage caused by infections, medications, toxins, or autoimmune conditions.
3. What is the management of AKI?
- Management of acute kidney failure involves fluid resuscitation, avoidance of nephrotoxic medications, and correction of electrolyte imbalances (potassium binders, giving medicine to restore calcium level and removing poison from the blood).
4. What are the three early warning signs of kidney disease?
- If kidneys aren’t working properly, you may notice extreme tiredness (fatigue), confusion, nausea and vomiting, or trouble concentrating.
5. Can CKD be cured?
- There’s no exact cure for CKD or chronic kidney disease, but there are treatments that can help relieve the symptoms and stop it from getting worse. The main treatments are lifestyle changes, specific medications, dialysis, and kidney transplants.
Reference:
1. “Acute Kidney Injury.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Chronic Kidney Disease.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Acute Renal Failure” By ColnKurtz – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Ultrasonography of end-stage chronic kidney disease” By Kristoffer Lindskov Hansen, Michael Bachmann Nielsen and Caroline Ewertsen – (2015). “Ultrasonography of the Kidney: A Pictorial Review”. Diagnostics 6 (1): 2. DOI:10.3390/diagnostics6010002. ISSN 2075-4418. (CC-BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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