Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) is a common condition in hospitalized patients. Research has been unable to identify the optimal target for therapeutic intervention; hence, effective prevention of and/or treatment for ARF remain elusive.
Objective: To examine the usefulness of current and potential pharmacologic treatments in seriously ill, hospitalized patients.
Data sources: A MEDLINE search (1996-June 2002) was conducted using the search terms kidney (drug effects) and acute kidney failure (drug therapy). Bibliographies of selected articles were also examined to include all relevant investigations.
Study selection and data extraction: Review articles, meta-analyses, and clinical trials describing prevention of and treatment for hospital-acquired ARF were identified. Results from prospective, controlled trials were given priority when available.
Conclusions: Appropriate management of ARF includes prospective identification of at-risk patients, fluid administration, and optimal hemodynamic support. Drug treatments, including low-dose dopamine and diuretics, have demonstrated extremely limited benefits and have not been shown to improve patient outcome. Experimental agents influence cellular processes of renal dysfunction and recovery; unfortunately, relatively few drugs show promise for the future.