A 64-year-old woman with long standing coronary artery disease presents to the clinic with lower extremity swelling abdominal distension and shortness of breath

A 64-year-old woman with long standing coronary artery disease presents to the clinic with lower extremity swelling abdominal distension and shortness of breath

A 64-year-old woman with long standing coronary artery disease presents to the clinic with lower extremity swelling, abdominal distension, and shortness of breath. Patient states she has a 30-pound weight gain in 6 weeks and is now requiring 3 pillows to sleep.

On physical exam the patient is a well-developed, well-nourished female exhibiting signs of respiratory distress with use of accessory muscles. Blood pressure 150/80, pulse 105, respirations 28 and labored. Body weight 89 kg. HEENT was unremarkable. Cardiac exam had an S1, S2 and S3 without S4 or murmur. Respiratory exam was positive for bilateral rales 1/2 up both lung fields. Abdomen was enlarged with a positive fluid wave. Lower extremities were remarkable for 3+ pitting edema.

Laboratory data was significant for an increase in K+ from 3.4 mmol/l to 6.1 mmol/l in 2 weeks, BUN increased from 18 mg/dl to 104 mg/dl, and creatinine increased from 0.8 mg/dl to 6.9 mg/dl.

CXR revealed congestive heart failure. The APRN calls the cardiologist on call who admits the patient to the hospital and orders a nephrology consult.

She was diagnosed with exacerbation of congestive heart failure (CHF) and acute kidney injury (AKI).

Question:

What type of acute kidney injury does the patient have and what factors contributed to this diagnosis?