2. RENAL FUNCTION TEST - LAB Flashcards
What are the standard tests used to measure the filtering capacity of the glomeruli called?
Clearance tests.
What does a clearance test measure?
The rate in milliliters per minute at which the kidneys remove (clear) a filterable substance from the blood.
What is an important requirement for the substance used in a clearance test?
The substance must not be reabsorbed or secreted by the tubules.
What OTHER factors should be considered when selecting a substance for a clearance test?
Stability of the substance in urine
consistency of plasma levels
availability to the body
availability of tests to analyze the substance.
Why is it important that the substance used in a clearance test is not reabsorbed or secreted by the tubules?
To ensure accurate measurement of glomerular filtration.
How should the substance in a clearance test behave during a 24-hour collection period?
It should remain stable in the urine.
What must be consistent for an accurate clearance test?
The plasma level of the substance being tested.
What must be available for the substance used in a clearance test?
Tests to analyze the substance.
What is used to measure the glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
A variety of substances, including creatinine, beta2-microglobulin (B2M), cystatin C, and possibly radioisotopes.
What are the primary substances currently used in clearance tests?
Creatinine, beta2-microglobulin (B2M), cystatin C, and possibly radioisotopes.
What is a common substance used in clearance tests that measures GFR?
Creatinine.
What is another substance used for measuring GFR, aside from creatinine?
Beta2-microglobulin (B2M).
Which substance used in GFR measurement is known for being a protein in blood plasma?
Cystatin C
What method might be used for GFR measurement that involves radioactive substances?
Radioisotopes.
What was the earliest substance measured to assess glomerular filtration?
Urea.
Why was urea used in early glomerular filtration tests?
Urea is present in all urine specimens and there were established methods for its chemical analysis.
What percentage of filtered urea is reabsorbed in the body?
Approximately 40%.
How were normal values for urea clearance adjusted to account for reabsorption?
Normal values were adjusted to reflect the 40% reabsorption of filtered urea.
What practice was used to ensure that no more than 40% of the urea was reabsorbed during measurement?
Patients were hydrated to produce a urine flow rate of 2 mL/min
What was the purpose of producing a urine flow rate of 2 mL/min in urea clearance tests?
To ensure that reabsorption of urea did not exceed 40%, providing accurate measurement.
What substance was originally used as the reference method for clearance tests?
Inulin.
What is inulin and why is it used in clearance tests?
Inulin is a polymer of fructose that is extremely stable, not reabsorbed or secreted by the tubules, making it ideal for measuring GFR.
How is inulin administered for clearance tests?
Inulin must be infused intravenously at a constant rate throughout the testing period.
Why is inulin not used as commonly today for clearance tests?
There are newer methods available that use endogenous substances and can provide accurate GFR results.
What are the advantages of using inulin in clearance tests?
Its stability and the fact that it is neither reabsorbed nor secreted by the tubules make it an accurate measure of GFR.
What is a key disadvantage of using inulin for clearance tests?
Inulin is not a normal body constituent and requires intravenous infusion, making it less convenient compared to endogenous substances.
What is a test that requires an infused substance called?
An exogenous procedure.
Why are exogenous procedures seldom the method of choice for clearance tests?
Because suitable test substances that are already present in the body (endogenous procedures) are preferred if available.
What is the main advantage of using endogenous substances in clearance tests?
They are already present in the body, eliminating the need for infusion and making the procedure simpler.
What differentiates an endogenous procedure from an exogenous procedure in clearance tests?
Endogenous procedures use substances naturally present in the body, while exogenous procedures require the infusion of external substances.
a waste product of muscle metabolism produced by creatine phosphokinase from creatine, which interacts with ATP to produce ADP and energy
Creatinine
What is creatinine and how is it produced?
Creatinine is a waste product of muscle metabolism produced by creatine phosphokinase from creatine, which interacts with ATP to produce ADP and energy.
Why is creatinine used in evaluating glomerular function?
Because it is normally found at a relatively constant level in the blood, making it an endogenous procedure for assessing kidney function.
What is one disadvantage of using creatinine for clearance tests?
Some creatinine is secreted by the tubules, and this secretion increases as blood levels rise.
How can chromogens in plasma affect creatinine clearance results?
Chromogens can react in chemical analysis, potentially counteracting falsely elevated rates caused by tubular secretion.
How can certain medications affect creatinine clearance measurements?
Medications inhibit tubular secretion of creatinine, resulting in falsely low serum levels.
Name examples of medications that inhibit tubular secretion of creatinine.
Gentamicin, cephalosporins, and cimetidine (Tagamet).
What issue can arise if urinary creatinine specimens are kept at room temperature for extended periods?
Bacteria can break down urinary creatinine, affecting the results.
How can a diet high in meat affect creatinine clearance results?
A high meat intake can increase creatinine levels in urine and plasma, affecting results if plasma specimens are drawn before the 24-hour collection period.
Why might creatinine clearance measurements be unreliable in certain patients?
In patients with muscle-wasting diseases, those engaged in heavy exercise, or athletes supplementing with creatine, creatinine clearance may not be reliable.
What factor must be corrected for when measuring creatinine clearance?
Creatinine clearance values must be corrected for body surface area and adjusted for children.
What newer methods are available for assessing glomerular filtration rate (GFR)?
Newer methods use serum creatinine, cystatin C, or beta2-microglobulin (B2M) values to estimate GFR (eGFR) without needing timed urine collections.
Why is the traditional procedure for creatinine clearance still important despite newer methods?
The traditional procedure is still performed and its principles apply to other clearance procedures using urine.
What is the main purpose of eGFR formulas?
To estimate glomerular filtration rates for screening patients, monitoring renal disease, and aiding in medication prescriptions requiring renal clearance.
What is the most frequently used eGFR formula?
The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) study formula.
What is the recommended eGFR formula by the National Kidney Disease Education Program (NKDEP)?
The MDRD-IDMS-traceable formula.
Why were previous eGFR formulas revised?
Discrepancies arose from the methods used to measure serum creatinine.
What makes eGFR superior to serum creatinine alone?
eGFR includes variables for race, age, and gender, making it more accurate.
What creatinine assay methods are primarily used in laboratories now?
Enzyme assays that align more closely with the isotope dilution mass spectrophotometry (IDMS) reference method.
For what GFR values is the MDRD-IDMS formula most accurate?
For GFR values lower than 60 mL/min.
How are eGFR results higher than 60 mL/min typically reported?
As “≥60 mL/min.”
What is the GFR range for Stage 1 chronic kidney disease (CKD) according to KDIGO?
Greater than 90 mL/min/1.73 m².
What is the GFR range for Stage 2 CKD according to KDIGO?
Between 60 and 89 mL/min/1.73 m².
What is the GFR range for Stage 3 CKD according to KDIGO?
Between 45 and 59 mL/min/1.73 m².
What is the GFR range for Stage 4 CKD according to KDIGO?
Between 15 and 29 mL/min/1.73 m².
What GFR value defines Stage 5 CKD (end-stage renal disease) according to KDIGO?
Less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m².
a small protein produced by all nucleated cells at a constant rate, used to screen and monitor GFR.
Cystatin C
Why is cystatin C a reliable marker for GFR?
It is filtered by the glomerulus, reabsorbed, and broken down by the renal tubular cells, with no secretion by the tubules.
What is the advantage of cystatin C measurement over creatinine clearance?
Cystatin C is independent of muscle mass, making it more accurate for patients with varying muscle conditions.
For which patients is monitoring cystatin C levels recommended?
Pediatric patients, people with diabetes, the elderly, and critically ill patients.
What is the advantage of measuring both cystatin C and creatinine levels?
Combining both measurements provides more accurate information on a patient’s GFR
How is cystatin C measured?
immunoassay procedures.