Acute renal failure, now referred to as acute kidney injury, is a common and clinically important problem. Acute kidney injury frequently occurs as a result of acute tubular necrosis (ATN), which is often caused by a reduction in systemic blood pressure or renal blood flow (e.g., as observed in severe sepsis or during renal transplantation). The disease course in ATN is variable, including prolonged dialysis-dependence and chronic renal dysfunction, but there is currently no specific therapy for ATN. There is increasing evidence that the inflammatory response in ATN significantly contributes to disease severity and outcome.
