Acute tubular necrosis

**Definition:** Any condition of the kidney, caused by hypotension, hypoperfusion, ischaemia, hypoxia, or use of nephrotoxic drugs. These conditions are characterised by death of tubular epithelial cells and acute kidney injury. Confirmation is by identification of "muddy brown casts" of epithelial cells in a urine sample.

**Exclusions:** - Diphtheritic renal tubular necrosis - postprocedural tubular necrosis