ChemPath: Assessment of Renal Function 2 Flashcards
AKI vs CKD
AKI
Abrupt decline in GFR
Potentially reversible
Treatment to precise diagnosis and reversal of disease
CKD
Longstanding decline of GFR
Irreversible
Treatment targeted to prevention of complications and limiting progression
Define AKI.
Rapid reduction in kidney function, leading to inability to maintain electrolyte, acid-base and fluid homeostasis.
What are the three stages of AKI?
Stage 1: increase in serum creatinine by 1.5-1.9 times baseline
Stage 2: increase in serum creatinine by 2-2.9 times baseline
Stage 3: increase in serum creatinine by >3 times baseline
What is pre-renal AKI?
AKI caused by reduced renal perfusion
Describe the normal response to reduced circulating volume.
- Activation of central baroreceptors and renin-angiotensin system
- Release of vasopressin
- Activation of sympathetic system
- Results in vasoconstriction, increased cardiac output and renal sodium retention
Name and describe the two mechanisms that maintain renal blood flow despite changes in systemic blood pressure.
- Myogenic stretch - if the afferent arteriole gets stretched due to high pressure, it will constrict to reduce the transmission of that pressure to the glomerulus
- Tubuloglomerular Feedback - high chloride concentration in the early distal tubule (suggestive of high GFR) stimulates constriction of the afferent arteriole which lowers GFR and, hence, chloride concentration
List some causes of pre-renal AKI.
- True volume depletion
- Hypotension
- Oedematous state
- Selective renal ischaemia (e.g. renal artery stenosis)
- Drugs affecting renal blood flow
List some drugs that affect renal blood flow.
- ACE inhibitors - reduce efferent arteriolar constriction
- NSAIDs - decreased afferent arteriolar constriction
- Calcineurin inhibitors - decrease afferent arteriolar constriction
- Diuretics - affect tubular funciton and decrease preload
What is a consequence of prolonged pre-renal insult?
Acute tubular necrosis (ATN)
What might be seen on urine microscopy in a patient with ATN?
Epithelial cell casts
What causes post-renal AKI?
Physical obstruction of urine flow
List some sites of urine obstruction.
- Intra-renal
- Ureteric
- Prostatic/urethral
- Blocked urinary catheter
Outline the pathophysiology of post-renal AKI.
- GFR is dependent on a hydraulic pressure gradient
- Obstruction results in increased tubular pressure
- This results in an immediated decline in GFR
What are some consequences of prolonged renal obstruction?
- Glomerular ischaemia
- Tubular damage
- Long-term interstitial scarring
List the possible sites of disease in intrinsic AKI.
- Vascular (e.g. vasculitis)
- Glomerular (e.g. glomerulonephritis)
- Tubular (e.g. ATN)
- Interstitial (e.g. AIN)
What can cause direct tubular injury?
- Ischaemia (MOST COMMON)
- Endoengous toxins (e.g. myoglobin, immunoglobulin)
- Exogenous toxins (e.g. aminoglycosides, amphotericin, aciclovir)
Which diseases can cause AKI due to infiltration/abnormal protein deposition?
- Amyloidosis (associated with nephrotic syndrome)
- Lymphoma
- Myeloma
List the possible outcomes of AKI.
- Partial recovery of renal function
- Discharged with increased serum creatinine
- Discharged requiring chronic dialysis
- Death