Chronic Kidney Disease & Renal Failure Flashcards
What homeostatic functions are performed by the kidneys (3)?
- Electrolyte balance
- Acid-base balance
- Volume homeostasis
What endocrine functions are performed by the kidneys (2)?
- Erythropoietin synthesis
- 1-alpha hydroxylase (Vitamin D)
What are the excretory functions of the kidneys (4)?
- Nitrogenous waste
- Middle sized molecules
- Hormones, peptides
- Salt and Water
What are the functions of the kidney regarding glucose metabolism (2)?
- Gluconeogenesis
- Insulin clearance
What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?
- CKD is defined as abnormalities of kidney structure or function, present for >3 months

What are the clinical signs of CKD (3)?
- Albuminuria / proteinuria
- Haematuria
- Electrolyte abnormalities detected by imaging
Disruptions to the homeostatic balance of the kidneys can manifest as what (4)?
- Hyperkalaemia
- Reduced bicarbonate - decreases pH and manifests as metabolic acidosis
- Increased phosphate
- Salt and water imbalance

Why does metabolic acidosis occur in kidney failure?
- Reduced excretion of hydrogen ions from the distal convoluted tubule into the filtrate, manifests as acid retention

What can acidosis cause (2)?
- Anorexia
- Muscle catabolism
Why does hyperkalaemia occur in kidney failure?
- Reduced potassium excretion

What are the symptoms of hyperkalaemia (3)?
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Neural muscular activity
- Vomiting

What features on an ECG suggest hyperkalaemia (6)?
- Peaked T waves
- P-waves: Broadens, reduced amplitude
- QRS widening
- Heart block
- Asystole
- VT / VF
What is the treatment for hyperkalaemia?
Drive it in, drive it out and into the gut
- Drive into cells
- Sodium bicarbonate
- Insulin dextrose (caution) – carries hypoglycaemic risk. Insulin is a potassium drive (short term solution)
- Drive out of the body
- Diuretics/dialysis
- Gut absorption
- Potassium chelating agents

How does insulin dextrose treat hyperkalaemia?
- Insulin induces a potassium drive (short-term solution)

What is used to treat hyperkalaemia in an acute setting?
- Sodium bicarboante - neutralises the hydrogen ions, such that potassium can re-enter the cells

Why is there an increased cardiovascular risk with chronic kidney disease?
- There is an increased cardiovascular risk, since cardiac ventricular myocyte contraction is directly related to extracellular concentrations of calcium (arrythmias) + increased calcification risk
- Predictor of end stage renal failure is CKD
- Outcome for a patient with CKD → Cardiovascular disease

What are the standard cardiovascular risk (3)?
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Lipid abnormalities
What are the symptoms associated with kidney failure and reduced secretion of sodium chloride (3)?
- Hypertension
- Oedema
- Pulmonary Oedema
Why is salt and water loss evident in tubulointestinal disorders?
- Damage in the concentrating mechanism of the juxtamedullary interstitial → water reabsorption decreased
What is the immediate treatment in a patient with hypovolaemia?
- Give fluids

What is the immediate treatment for a patient with hypervolaemia?
- Fluid restriction, consider diuretics/dialysis
What are the endocrine imbalances that occur in kidney dysfunction (3)?
- Increased PTH
- Anaemia - reduced EPO production
- Hypocalcaemia- reduced calcitriol synthesis

What type of hyperparathyroidism is linked with chronic kidney failure?
- Tertiary hyperparathyroidism

Why does anaemia occur in kidney dysfunction?
- Reduced erythropoeitin production







