system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
An 81-year-old man is brought in by his neighbor with altered mental status. The patient’s neighbor is unsure exactly how long he was alone, but estimates that it was at least 3 days. The neighbor says that the patient usually has his daughter at home to look after him but she had to go into the hospital recently. The patient is unable to provide any useful history. Past medical history is significant for long-standing hypercholesterolemia and hypertension, managed medically with rosuvastatin and hydrochlorothiazide, respectively. His vital signs include: blood pressure, 140/95 mm Hg; pulse, 106/min; temperature, 37.2°C (98.9°F); and respiratory rate, 19/min. On physical examination, the patient is confused and unable to respond to commands. His mucus membranes are dry and he has tenting of the skin. The remainder of the exam is unremarkable. Laboratory findings are significant for the following:
Sodium 141 mEq/L
Potassium 4.1 mEq/L
Chloride 111 mEq/L
Bicarbonate 21 mEq/L
BUN 40 mg/dL
Creatinine 1.4 mg/dL
Glucose (fasting) 80 mg/dL
  Magnesium 1.9 mg/dL
Calcium 9.3 mg/dL
Phosphorous 3.6 mg/dL
24-hour urine collection
Urine Sodium 169 mEq/24 hr (ref: 100–260 mEq/24 hr)
Urine Creatinine 79.5 g/24 hr (ref: 1.0–1.6 g/24 hr)
Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient’s acute renal failure?
assistant
Dehydration