What is the cause of anuria (absence of urine output) for 16 hours with associated hypertension (blood pressure 173/95 mmHg)?

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Differential Diagnosis for No Urine Output and Hypertension

  • Single Most Likely Diagnosis
    • Dehydration: The patient's lack of urine output for 16 hours could be due to inadequate fluid intake, leading to dehydration. The blood pressure of 173/95 could be a response to the dehydration, as the body tries to maintain blood pressure through vasoconstriction.
  • Other Likely Diagnoses
    • Urinary Retention: This could be due to a variety of causes such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), neurogenic bladder, or medications. The high blood pressure could be unrelated or could be contributing to the urinary retention through increased sympathetic tone.
    • Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): The lack of urine output could indicate AKI, which could be caused by a variety of factors including dehydration, medications, or underlying kidney disease. The hypertension could be a contributing factor to the AKI or a result of the kidney injury.
    • Post-Renal Causes: Such as kidney stones or blood clots could be obstructing the flow of urine, leading to no output. The hypertension could be unrelated or could be a result of the pain and stress associated with the obstruction.
  • Do Not Miss Diagnoses
    • Sepsis: Although not immediately apparent, sepsis could be causing the lack of urine output through hypovolemia or direct kidney injury. The hypertension could be a response to the sepsis, and missing this diagnosis could be deadly.
    • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA): An AAA could be causing the hypertension and also potentially obstructing the renal arteries, leading to lack of urine output. Missing this diagnosis could be catastrophic.
    • Pheochromocytoma: A rare tumor of the adrenal gland that could be causing the hypertension and also potentially affecting kidney function, leading to lack of urine output.
  • Rare Diagnoses
    • Prerenal Causes: Such as renal artery stenosis or thrombosis could be causing the lack of urine output. The hypertension could be a result of the underlying cause of the renal artery stenosis.
    • Intrinsic Renal Causes: Such as glomerulonephritis or vasculitis could be causing the lack of urine output. The hypertension could be a result of the underlying kidney disease.
    • Neurogenic Causes: Such as spinal cord injury or multiple sclerosis could be affecting the nerves that control the bladder, leading to lack of urine output. The hypertension could be unrelated or could be a result of the underlying neurologic condition.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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