There are relatively few causes of low signal intensity renal parenchyma. Causes include:
- hemolysis
- paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
- mechanical: malfunctioning prosthetic cardiac valve
- sickle cell disease
- infection
- vascular disease
- acute renal vein thrombosis
- renal cortical necrosis
- arterial ischemia and infarction
- rejection of transplanted kidney
- acute non-myoglobinuric renal failure