Chronic Kidney Disease Flashcards
What is CKD defined as?
An abnormality of kidney structure of function, present for >3 months with implications for health
Is CKD reversible?
Most often irreversible, and progressive
In which age range does incidence of CKD peak?
75 - 85+
What are the causes of CKD? (10)
- Diabetic neuropathy
- Glomerulonephritis
- Hypertension
- Systemic disease e.g. SLE, vasculitis, amyloid, myeloma
- Renal artery stenosis
- Hereditary e.g. polycystic kidney disease
- Chronic pyelonephritis
- Urinary tract obstruction e.g. prostatic disease
- Heart failure
- Drugs e.g. NSAIDs
Why is CKD defined as a syndrome?
It is not a unified disease, it is important to consider the underlying causes as this may impact on specific treatment, and it is classified according to severity of reduced eGFR
How may CKD present? (5)
- Incidental finding on blood or urine tests in investigation of other condition/routine test
- Hypertension
- Monitoring ‘at risk’ patients
- Symptoms of CKD - usually occur later with advanced impairment of kidney function
- ‘Crash landers’ with acute presentation of previously undiagnosed progressive CKD
What are the indications for monitoring patients who are at risk of developing CKD? (8)
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- CVD
- Nephrotoxic drugs e.g. NSAIDs, lithium
- Structural renal disease
- Multi-system illness
- Family history
- Following episode of AKI
When assessing the kidney function, what levels of serum urea are associated with reduced renal excretion?
Serum urea is increased with reduced renal excretion
Why is proteinuria important in CKD?
Proteinuria is an important marker of risk of progression of CKD (both the presence and quantity of protein)
How is proteinuria traditionally measured? and what is more commonly done in practice?
24hr urine collection
More commonly it is quantified by spot urine sample (preferably morning) for protein/creatinine ratio (PCR) in urine or albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR)
How do you investigate CKD? (6)
- Clinical history
- Biochemistry/haematology
- Urine - dipstick, microscopy
- Immunology screen (e.g. SLE, vasculitis, myeloma)
- Renal ultrasound - ‘normal’, obstruction, cystic disease, scarring, renovascular, small kidneys
- +/- renal biopsy, angiography
What are the normal functions of the kidneys? (3)
- Excretory
- Homeostasis (fluid balance, blood pressure)
- Endocrine
What do the kidneys normally excrete?
- Inorganic substances e.g. potassium, phosphate
- Organic substances e.g. urea, creatining
- Larger molecules e.g. B2-microglobulin
- Clinically uraemic toxicity
What are the endocrine functions of the kidneys? (2)
- Erythropoietin
2. Bone metabolism vitamin D
What is a common complication of CKD with regards to the endocrine function being reduced?
Anaemia (due to reduced erythropoietin production)