Which of the following pathologies puts patients at high risk for acute renal failure?

• A. Severe sepsis
• B. Mild seasonal allergies
• C. Uncomplicated influenza
• D. Chronic otitis media

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definition of acute renal failure (ARF), also known as acute kidney injury (AKI), which is a sudden loss of kidney function that can be caused by various conditions affecting blood flow, toxins, or infections.
2. Step 2: Review each pathology option and consider how it might impact kidney function. For example, mild seasonal allergies and uncomplicated influenza are generally not associated with kidney damage or impaired renal perfusion.
3. Step 3: Recognize that severe sepsis is a systemic infection that can lead to widespread inflammation, decreased blood flow to organs including the kidneys, and can cause acute renal failure due to ischemia and toxin-mediated injury.
4. Step 4: Understand that chronic otitis media is a localized ear infection and typically does not affect kidney function or cause systemic complications leading to ARF.
5. Step 5: Conclude that among the given options, severe sepsis is the pathology that puts patients at high risk for acute renal failure because of its systemic effects on circulation and organ function.