Renal blood flow redistribution during acute kidney injury.

We describe a case of acute kidney injury with decreased kidney perfusion in which contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen was performed for a nonrenal indication. This imaging procedure showed intrarenal blood flow redistribution from the cortex to the medulla that reversed after recovery of kidney function. Renal blood flow redistribution was described first almost a century ago in experimental models of renal ischemia, but clinical imaging studies are scarce. We provide a clear example of this phenomenon using contrast-enhanced computed tomography.