Cortical Necrosis of the Kidneys

Cortical necrosis of the kidneys is the death of tissue in the outer layer (cortex) of one or both of your kidneys.

Cortical necrosis is caused by a blockage of the blood vessels that bring blood to your kidneys.

• Cortical necrosis happens when something interferes with blood flow to your kidneys

• It's often caused by a severe health problem that causes a big drop in blood pressure

• Cortical necrosis causes your kidneys to stop doing their job (kidney failure)

• You urinate less, have dark urine, a fever, and pain in your lower back

• Doctors treat the health problem causing cortical necrosis of the kidneys and may give you fluids and antibiotics

The causes depend on age.

In newborns, causes include:

• Premature detachment of the placenta

• Bacterial infection of the bloodstream (sepsis)

In children, causes include:

• Severe infection

• Severe dehydration

• Shock

In adults, causes include:

• Complications from pregnancy, such as uterine bleeding, infections after delivery, and preeclampsia

• Severe infection (sepsis)

• Severe blood loss from an injury or surgery

• Pancreatitis

• Snakebite

• Certain drugs or chemicals

You usually don't have any symptoms unless you get kidney failure. Symptoms of kidney failure include:

• Feeling weak and tired

• Feeling sick to your stomach

• Being less hungry than usual

• Itching

• Feeling sleepy or confused

Doctors suspect cortical necrosis if you have one of the disorders that can cause it and routine blood tests show your kidneys aren't working normally. To tell for sure, they may do:

• Computed tomography angiography (CTA)—a type of CT scan that focuses on your major blood vessels

Doctors treat the problem that caused the cortical necrosis.

If you have kidney failure, you may need:

• Dialysis (a machine filters your blood when your kidneys aren't able to)

• Kidney transplant