🏥 USMLE Exam Prep

A 70-year-old male is admitted for pneumonia. On day 3, his creatinine rises from a baseline of 1.0 mg/dL to 2.5 mg/dL. He is oliguric. Urine osmolality is 350 mOsm/kg, urine sodium is 45 mEq/L, and fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) is 2.5%. What is the most likely cause of his acute kidney injury?

A Prerenal azotemia
B Acute tubular necrosis
C Postrenal obstruction
D Acute interstitial nephritis

✓ Correct Answer: Option B

The laboratory findings, specifically a fractional excretion of sodium (FENa) greater than 2%, urine sodium greater than 20 mEq/L, and relatively low urine osmolality, are characteristic of acute tubular necrosis (ATN), often caused by ischemia or nephrotoxins.

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