Etiologies of acute renal failure in a sample of hospitalized Jordanian patients.

Review of literature revealed no studies about the predominant causes and risk factors of acute renal failure in Jordan. This study identifies the most common causes of acute renal failure and the possible risk factors among hospitalized Jordanian population. A total of 111 patients were admitted to both King Abdullah University Hospital and Princess Basmah Teaching Hospital from December 2005 to April 2006 with a diagnosis of acute renal failure or developed acute renal failure in hospital during their stay. A written form was filled from the patients and their files. Results showed that 31.5% of patients were diabetic, 44.1% were hypertensive, and 40.5% had preexisting chronic renal failure. On admission, creatinine blood levels were high in 97 patients (87.4%), while at discharge, they were high in 61 patients (55%). Urgent dialysis was done for 20 patients (18%). In all, 95 patients (85.6%) were discharged home, and 16 patients (14.4%) died in hospital. Causes of acute renal failure included dehydration, diuretics, sepsis, contrast media, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glomerulonephritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, stones, and others. In conclusion, one-third of the causes of acute renal failure in this sample of hospitalized Jordanian patients were due to drugs, which makes this problem preventable. Mortality was affected by the age of patients and the duration of hospitalization.