AEMCA Practice Exam

Which of the following is a pre-renal cause of acute renal failure?

1. Direct kidney trauma

2. Severe drop in blood pressure

3. Obstruction of urine flow

4. Kidney infection

The correct answer is: Severe drop in blood pressure

A severe drop in blood pressure is a pre-renal cause of acute renal failure because it relates to factors that affect blood flow to the kidneys. Pre-renal acute renal failure occurs when there is inadequate blood flow to the kidneys, often due to reduced blood volume, which can result from conditions such as significant dehydration, heart failure, or hypotension. When blood pressure drops significantly, the kidneys may not receive enough blood to function effectively, leading to a decrease in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and ultimately resulting in acute kidney injury. In contrast, the other options describe conditions that more directly impact the kidneys or the urinary tract. Direct kidney trauma involves physical damage to the kidneys themselves, leading to intrinsic renal injury. Obstruction of urine flow can cause post-renal acute renal failure since it occurs after the kidneys and affects urine excretion. A kidney infection represents an intrinsic renal condition, as it involves actual pathology within the kidney itself, affecting renal tissue and function directly. Thus, the choice that highlights issues affecting renal perfusion through blood flow is the most fitting for a pre-renal cause.