Chronic Kidney Disease Flashcards
What is the acronym for the functions of the kidney?
A - acid base balance
W - water removal
E - erythropoiesis
T - toxin removal
B - blood pressure control
E - electrolyte balance
D - vitamin D activation
How is the kidney involved in acid base balance?
It reabsorbs and produces bicarbonate
How is the kidney involved in water removal?
It produces urine
How is the kidney involved in erythropoiesis?
The kidney produces erythropoietin in the peritubular interstitial fibroblasts
This stimulates RBC production in bone marrow
How is the kidney involved in blood pressure control?
It is involved in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Renin is activated when blood pressure is low
This leads to Na+ and water retention that increases BP
What electrolytes are involved in electrolyte balance in the kidney?
sodium
potassium
chloride
magnesium
glucose
phosphate
bicarbonate
How is the kidney involved in Vitamin D activation?
It produces calcitriol
This promotes Ca2+ absorption in the gut and renal reabsorption of phosphate
What is involved in glomerular filtration?
The movement of substances from the blood within the glomerulus into the capsular space
What is involved in tubular reabsorption?
The movement of substances from the tubular fluid back into the blood
What is involved in tubular secretion?
The movement of substances from the blood into the tubular fluid
What is the main function of the glomerulus?
It filters small solutes from the blood
What is the main function of the Bowman’s capsule?
It collects what is filtered through the glomerulus
What is the main function of the proximal convoluted tubule?
- reabsorbs 65% of filtrate volume
(nutrients, ions and water)
- secretes toxins
(ammonia, creatinine, some drugs)
- adjusts filtrate pH
What is the main function of the descending limb of the loop of Henlé?
Water reabsorption through aquaporins
This increases osmolarity
What is the main function of the ascending limb of the loop of Henle?
- It reabsorbs Na and Cl
This reduces osmolarity
- Urea is secreted
What is the function of the distal convoluted tubule?
Aldosterone leads to reabsorption of Na+ (and Cl-) and secretion of K+
PTH causes Ca2+ reabsorption
It also reabsorbs bicarbonate and water and synthesises bicarbonate
What is the function of the collecting duct?
ADH leads to water reabsorption
It reabsorbs and secretes various ions to maintain blood pH
What does glomerular filtration rate refer to?
The ultrafiltrate of plasma which crosses the glomerular barrier into the urinary space
What is GFR equivalent to?
What is it used to measure?
It is equal to the total filtration rates of all functioning nephrons
It is a surrogate for the amount of functioning renal tissue
What is normal GFR?
90 mL/min/1.73 m^2 or higher
It cannot be measured directly and is adjusted for body surface area
What are the 2 different calculations that can be used to estimate GFR?
- CKD-EPI
2. MDRD
What is CKD-EPI based on?
When can it not be used?
It uses serum creatinine, sex, age and race
It cannot be used for children, pregnant women, elderly and some ethnic groups
What is the problem with MDRD calculations?
They underestimate GFR
CKD-EPI is a better predictor of risk
What must be taken into account when using formulae based on serum creatinine?
- higher average muscle mass in African patients means higher creatinine generation rate
- men have a greater muscle mass than women
- younger people have a greater muscle mass
What is chronic kidney disease?
How is it defined?
It describes abnormalities of kidney function or structure
eGFR of less than 60 ml/min/1.73m2 must be present on at least 2 occasions 90 days apart
How many stages of chronic kidney disease are there?
What are the GFR rates for each stage?
- mild reduction - eGFR 60 - 89
- mild to moderate reduction - eGFR 45-59
- moderate-severe reduction - eGFR 30-44
- severe reduction - eGFR 15-29
- kidney failure - eGFR < 15
What is normal eGFR?
> 90
What is CKD related to in terms of increasing risk of other conditions?
- cardiovascular disease
- acute kidney injury
- falls and frailty
- mortality
It can progress to end-stage renal failure