Bloods Interpretation

Question 1

Causes of raised urea?

Answer 1

Dehydration, GI bleed, increased protein breakdown (surgery, trauma, infection, malignancy), high protein intake, drugs

Question 2

Causes of decreased urea?

Answer 2

Malnutrition, liver disease, pregnancy

Question 3

Causes of pre-renal renal failure?

Answer 3

Hypovolaemia/sepsis, renovascular disease

Question 4

Causes of intrinsic renal failure?

Answer 4

ATN (ischaemic or nephrotoxic), acute interstitial nephritis, acute glomerulonephritis

Question 5

Causes of post-renal renal AKI?

Answer 5

Urinary tract obstruction

Question 6

Marker of chronic kidney damage?

Answer 6

Proteinuria

Question 7

Causes of hyponatraemia? (Hypovolaemic - lost from kidneys)

Answer 7

Diuretics, Addison’s disease, kidney injury, osmotic diuresis

Question 8

Causes of hyponatraemia? (Hypovolaemic - from elsewhere)

Answer 8

Diarrhoea vomiting, fistula, burns

Question 9

Causes of hyponatraemia? (Euvolaemia - from kidneys)

Answer 9

SIADH, hypothyroidism, glucocorticoid insufficiency

Question 10

Causes of hyponatraemia? (euvolaemia - from elsewhere)

Answer 10

H2O intoxication

Question 11

Causes of hyponatraemia when oedematous?

Answer 11

Congestive cardiac failure, hypoalbuminaemia

low Na+ causes by excess ADH released secondary to intravascular fluid depletion

Question 12

Causes of hypernatraemia? (euvolaemia)

Answer 12

Iatrogenic (excess IV crystalloids, sodium containing drugs)

Question 13

Causes of hypernatraemia? (hypovolaemia - producing small volumes of concentrated urine)

Answer 13

Fluid loss (diarrhoea, vomiting, burns)

Question 14

Causes of hypernatraemia? (not producing small volumes of concentrated urine)

Answer 14

Diabetes insipidus (kidneys not reabsorbing any H2O)
Osmotic diuresis (e.g. DKA - kidneys losing H2O and solutes)

Question 15

Causes of hypokalaemia?

Answer 15

Increased renal excretion - diuretics, endocinological (steroids, Cushing’s, Conn’s), renal tubular acidosis, hypomagnasaemia.

Other K+ loss - intestinal fluid loss (vom/poop)

Increased cellular uptake - salbutamol, insulin, alkalosis

Question 16

Causes of hyperkalaemia?

Answer 16

Reduced renal excretion - acute/CKD, drugs (PSDs, ACE-i, NSAIDs), addison’s

Excess K+ load - iatrogenic, massive blood transfusion

Increased cellular release - acidosis, tissue breakdown

Question 17

Causes of hypocalcaemia?

Answer 17

Increased renal excretion - drugs (loops), CKD (increased PO43-), hypomagnasemia)

Increased deposition in bone - drugs (bisphosphonates)

Reduced/ineffective PTH - hypoparathyroidism, pseudohypoparathyroidism

Reduced vitamin D - vit D deficiency

Question 18

Causes of hypercalcaemia?

Answer 18

Decreased renal excretion - drugs (thiazides)

Increased release from bones - bony mets (increased ALP), myeloma (normal ALP), sarcoidosis, thyrotoxicosis

Excess PTH - primary hyperparathyroidism, tertiary hyperparathyroidism

Excess vit D - excessive intake

Question 19

Causes of hypophosphataemia?

Answer 19

Vit D deficiency, refeeding syndrome, primary hyperparathyroidism, poor nutrition/alcoholism

Question 20

Acute liver disease LFT pattern?

Answer 20

ALT/AST in 1000s, ALP mildly raised

Question 21

Chronic liver disease LFT pattern?

Answer 21

ALT/AST in 100s, low albumin

Question 22

Obstructive biliary disease pattern?

Answer 22

ALP in 1000s, ALT/AST mildly raised, raised bilirubin

Question 23

Alcoholic LFT pattern?

Answer 23

Raised Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, raised MCV

Question 24

Normal sodium value?

Answer 24

135-145 mmol/L

Question 25

Normal potassium value?

Answer 25

3.5 - 5 mmol/L

Question 26

Normal chloride value?

Answer 26

95 - 110

Question 27

Normal urea value?

Answer 27

2.5 - 6.5 mmol/L

Question 28

Normal creatinine value?

Answer 28

60-120

Question 29

Normal calcium value?

Answer 29

2.12 - 2.65

Question 30

Normal albumin value?

Answer 30

35-50

Question 31

Normal protein value?

Answer 31

60-80