Intrarenal

Intrarenal means within the kidney. In anatomy it refers to structures located inside the renal parenchyma, including the intrarenal portions of the renal vasculature and the nephrons that perform filtration and reabsorption.

In clinical medicine, intrarenal describes intrinsic kidney disease—pathology arising from the kidney itself—as opposed to prerenal conditions that reduce kidney perfusion or postrenal conditions caused by obstruction.

Intrinsic renal diseases include glomerulonephritis, acute tubular necrosis, interstitial nephritis, and certain vasculitides. Nephrotoxins and systemic disorders can also injure the renal parenchyma, for example contrast-induced nephropathy or other forms of nephrotoxic injury.

Diagnosis involves clinical assessment, laboratory tests, and sometimes kidney biopsy. Urinalysis may reveal proteinuria, hematuria, or cellular casts; imaging helps exclude obstruction but may be normal in purely intrarenal disease. Treatment targets the underlying cause and provides supportive kidney care, including fluid and electrolyte management; renal replacement therapy may be required in severe cases.

Understanding whether kidney injury is intrarenal helps guide prognosis and management, distinguishing intrinsic renal pathology from problems originating outside the kidney.