Severe Diarrhea-induced Acute Kidney Injury and Its Consequence in an Elderly

Abstract

Methods: This study presents a comprehensive case study of an elderly male diagnosed with acute kidney injury (AKI) resulting from severe dehydration, supported by an extended follow-up with laboratory findings.Results: An 83-year-old male patient experienced severe diarrhea overnight, leading to hospitalization due to symptoms of dehydration and hypotension. His laboratory results displayed a typical AKI pattern, including a significant increase in creatinine levels (5.19 mg/dL) and the presence of hyperkalemia and hyponatremia. Following general treatments, including the administration of an herbal drug (Bulhwangeumjeonggi-san), the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) improved from 10 ml/min (Stage 5) to 34 ml/min (Stage 3) within five days when he was discharged. Although subsequent eGFR tests, conducted one and two months later as an outpatient, revealed an improvement of 42 ml/min, the patient still experienced mild chronic dysfunction as a consequence.Conclusion: This study presents a noteworthy case of acute kidney injury attributed to severe dehydration, emphasizing the importance of medical awareness regarding diarrhea-induced kidney function impairment, especially in the elderly population.