15.8- Kidney failure Flashcards
Name three causes of kidney failure. (3 marks)
Kidney infections
High blood pressure
Genetic conditions
State two effects high blood pressure or infections can have on the contents of the urine, explain why. ( 3 marks)
Protein or blood in the urine.
This is due to the basement membranes/podocytes not acting as filters anymore (they are damaged), so red blood cells and protein can get through into the urine.
State 6 things complete kidney failure can cause. (6 marks)
Loss of electrolyte balance
Build up of toxic urea
High blood pressure
Weakened bones
Pain and stiffness in joints
Anaemia
What is glomerular filtration rate? (1 mark)
The rate at which blood is filtered in the Bowman’s capsules.
How is GFR measured? (2 marks)
A blood test measures the levels of creatine in the blood, if the levels are low, this indicates that the kidneys are not working properly.
Name and describe two factors that can affect GFR. (4 marks)
Age- GFR lowers with age
Gender- Men usually have more muscle than women, and therefore more creatine, resulting in a higher GFR level
What do normal GFRs not fall below? (1 mark)
70
What indicates chronic kidney disease? (2 marks)
A GFR value below 60 for more than 3 months.
What value of GFR indicates kidney failure? (1 mark)
15 or below
What does a GFR value of below 15 indicate? (! mark)
Kidney failure
Name the two types of kidney dialysis. (2 marks)
Haemodialysis
Peritoneal dialysis
How is haemodialysis conducted? (1 mark)
A kidney dialysis machine is used to filter the blood (it uses dialysis fluid).
Describe the composition of dialysis fluid. (2 marks)
Normal levels of glucose and mineral ions.
Contains no urea.
Why does the dialysis fluid flow in the opposite direction to the blood in a dialysis machine? (2 marks)
To maintain a countercurrent exchange system, to allow the most efficient exchange of substances.
Describe how peritoneal dialysis is conducted. (5 marks)
Inside the body, it uses the natural dialysis membrane inside the abdomen (the peritoneum).
Dialysis fluid i out in the abdomen using a catheter, left for several hours whilst dialysis takes place and then drained off, leaving the blood clean and filtered.
