Manitoba Nephrology Nurse Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a common cause of acute kidney injury (AKI)?

1. Trauma

2. Hypertension

3. Medications

4. Sepsis

The correct answer is: Hypertension

Hypertension is not typically classified as a direct cause of acute kidney injury (AKI), whereas the other options represent more immediate and common triggers for this condition. Acute kidney injury can often be precipitated by events such as significant trauma, which can lead to hemorrhage and reduced blood flow to the kidneys, medications that are nephrotoxic, and infections like sepsis that cause systemic inflammatory responses and can impair kidney function. While chronic hypertension can eventually lead to chronic kidney disease and potentially contribute to acute kidney injuries as a consequence of long-term damage, it does not act as an acute precipitant by itself. Therefore, it's important to distinguish between chronic conditions contributing to kidney vulnerability over time and acute conditions that can lead to immediate kidney impairment.