[4] Chronic Kidney Disease Flashcards
What is chronic kidney disease?
A type of kidney disease in which there is gradual loss of kidney function over a period of months or years
What does the term CKD embrace?
The majority of renal conditions
What are the causes of CKD?
- Diabetes mellitus
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Glomerulonephritis
- Infections of kidney
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Blockage to flow of urine, e.g. due to recurrent kidney stones or enlarged prostate
- Long term use of certain drugs
Give two examples of drugs that can cause CKD
- NSAIDs
- Lithium
What are the symptoms of CKD in the early stages?
Usually asymptomatic
How is CKD discovered in the early stages?
Usually on opportunistic blood or urine tests
What are the symptoms of more advanced CKD?
- Tiredness
- Oedema
- Shortness of break
- Haematuria
- Pruritis
- Anaemia
- Raised or high blood pressure
- Polydipsia and polyuria
How is CKD investigated?
- History and examination
- Measurement of kidney function
- Urine testing
- Blood tests
- Ultrasound imaging
- Histology
How is a measurement of kidney function made in CKD?
Using a creatinine-based estimate of GFR
What should a CKD history focus on?
Possible causes, as well as current symptoms
What past medical history should be obtained in a history for CKD?
- History of UTIs or LUTS
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus
- IHD
- Systemic disorders
- Renal colic
What drug history do you need to obtain in CKD?
Need to know about drug ingestion, including NSAIDs, analgesics, and other medicatins
What should be included in the family history in CKD?
- Renal disease
- Subarachnoid haemorrhages
What is the purpose of systems review in CKD?
To look for symptoms suggestive of systemic disease or malignancy
What may be found on blood tests in CKD?
- Normochromic, normocytic anaemia
- Abnormal glucose
- Decreased calcium
- Increased phosphate
- Increased PTH
What is the significance of a finding of abnormal glucose in CKD?
It indicates diabetes mellitus is the cause
What blood tests can be done in the directed investigations of intrinsic renal disease?
- ANA
- ANCA
- Anti-phospholipid antibodies
- Complement
What should be done in urine testing in CKD?
- MC&S
- Albumin:creatinine ratio, or protein:creatinine ratio
- Bence Jones protein
What is Bence Jones protein?
An immunoglobulin light chain found in the urine
What might Bence Jones protein suggest if found?
May be suggestive of multiple myeloma
When in particular is the finding of Bence Jones protein in the urine suggestive of multiple myeloma?
In the context of target organ manifestations, scuh as renal failure, lytic bone lesions, or anaemia
What proportion of multiple myeloma cases is Bence Jones protein found in?
2/3
What should be looked for on ultrasound imaging in CKD?
- Size
- Symmetry
- Anatomy
- Corticomedullary differentiation
- Signs of obstruction
- Scarring
What size might the kidneys be in CKD?
May be small (<9cm), except in infiltrative disorders, APKD, and diabetes
What diagnosis should you consider if the kidneys are asymmetrical on ultrasound?
Renovascular disease
When should you consider renal biopsy?
- Progressive disease
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Systemic disease
- AKI without recovery
What is the limitation of kidney biopsy as an investigation?
It is unlikely to change the treatment if GFR is stable and protein:creatinine ratio is <150
What is CKD classified according to?
The estimated GFR and the albumin creatinine ratio
What eGFR is classified as kidney failure?
<15ml/min
What monitoring should be done in CKD?
GFR and albuminuria should be monitored at least annually, according to risk
How often should a patient with CKD be monitored if they are high risk?
Every 6 months
How often should a patient with CKD be monitored if they are very high risk?
Every 3-4 months
What monitoring finding is significant in CKD?
Small fluctations are common, but a drop in eGFR >25% is significant
What is the aim of treatment in CKD?
There is no cure for CKD, so treatment is aimed at stopping progression and giving symptomatic relief
What does appropriate management of CKD include?
- Appropriate referral to nephrology
- Treatment to slow renal disease progression
- Renal replacement therapy
- Treatment of complications
When should a referral to nephrology be considered in CKD?
- Stage G4 or G5 CKD
- Moderate proteinuria, with albumin:creatinine ratio >70mg/mmol, unless due to diabetes and already treated
- Proteinuria with albumin:creatinine ratio >30mg/mmol with haematuria
- Decrease in eGFR by >25%, and a decrease in GFR category, or sustained eGFR reduction by >15% within 12 months
- Increase BP with poor control, despite 4 or more antihypertensive drugs at therapeutic dose
- Known or suspected rare or genetic cause of CKD
What risks can be modified to prevent or delay progression of CKD?
- Management of blood pressure
- Glycaemic control
- Lifestyle changes
- Reduce cholesterol, using diet or statins
What is the target HbA1c in CKD?
7%, unless risk of hypoglycaemia, co-morbidity, or limited life expectancy
What blood pressure should be aimed for in people with CKD?
Below 140/90mmHg
When should you aim to keep blood pressure below 130/80mmHg in CKD?
- In people with CKD and diabetes
- In people with an albumin:creatinine ratio of 70mg/mmol or more
How should you manage hypertension in CKD in a patient with an ACR of less than 30mg/mmol?
Follow normal hypertension guidelines
How should you manage hypertension in a patient withCKD and diabetes and an ACR of 3mg/mmol or more, or an ACR of 30mg/mmol or more?
ACE inhibitor or ARB
Should you offer a combination of ACE inhibitor and ARBs to people with CKD?
No
What should be done before starting ARBs or ACE inhibitors in CKD?
Measure serum potassium concentration and estimate the GFR
What monitoring should be done when a patient with CKD is on ARBs or ACE inhibitors?
You should repeat between 1 and 2 weeks after starting, or after each dose increase
What lifestyle advice should be given in CKD?
- Encourage regular exercise
- Achieve healthy weight
- Stop smoking
What dietary advice should be given in CKD?
Dietary advice about potassium, phosphate, calorite and salt intake appropriate to severity of CKD