Chronic kidney disease (URO) Flashcards
Define chronic kidney disease.
CKD is defined as abnormalities of kidney structure or function (GFR<60mL/minute/1.73m^2), present for >=3 months, with implications for health
What are abnormalities in kidney structure and function found in chronic kidney disease?
GFR >60mL/minute/1.73m^2 OR the presence of one or more of the following:
- albuminuria/proteinuria
- urine sediment abnormalities e.g. haematuria
- electrolyte abnormalities due to tubular disorders
- abnormalities detected by histology
- structural abnormalities detected by imaging
- Hx of kidney transplantation
What are some causes of chronic kidney disease? (5)
- diabetic nephropathy (diabetes)
- hypertensive nephropathy (hypertension)
- glomerulonephritis
- polycystic kidney disease
- heat stress nephropathy (environment/climate)
What are the most common causes of chronic kidney disease? (2)
Diabetes mellitus & hypertension
What is the most common genetic cause of chronic kidney disease?
Polycystic kidney disease
- autosomal dominant
- screen relatives with abdominal ultrasound
What are the mechanisms of damage in chronic kidney disease?
(Low-yield)
- renal injury –> increased intra-glomerular pressure + glomerular hypertrophy as compensation to maintain filtration
- glomerular permeability to TGF-beta, fatty acids, pro-inflammatory markers + protein –> mesangial matrix expansion, inflammation, fibrosis + scarring
- increase in angiotensin II –> upregulates TGF-beta –> collagen synthesis + scarring
- inflammation + reduced blood supply –> tubulo-atrophy + interstitial fibrosis
What are clinical features of CKD mainly manifestations of? (3)
- uraemia - lack of excretion of toxic substances
- anaemia - lack of EPO produced by kidney
- hyperphosphatemia - lack of excretion of toxic substances
How can CKD often present?
Often asymptomatic - may be finding of routine blood test or urine test
What are the clinical features of CKD?
- fatigue (uraemia/anaemia)
- oedema (peripheral/pulmonary - due to salt and water retention + hypoalbuminemia)
- nausea and vomiting (urea accumulation)
- pruritus (urea accumulation)
- restless legs (uraemia)
- anorexia (urea accumulation)
- foamy urine (proteinuria)
- cola-coloured urine (haematuria)
- dyspnoea, orthopnoea (pulmonary oedema due to reduced urine output)
- Kussmaul’s respiration (metabolic acidosis, deep inspiratory efforts without tachypnoea)
- seizures (advanced disease, increase in unexcreted toxins)
- infection-related glomerular disease (hepB&C, syphilis, streptococcal pharyngitis)
- arthralgia & rashes (concomitant autoimmune disorder)
- enlarged prostate gland (obstructive uropathy)
- symptoms of hypocalcaemia (due to 1-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency)
What are the symptoms of hypocalcaemia in CKD? (4)
- Convulsions (muscle twitching)
- Arrhythmias
- Tetany
- Paraesthesia
(CATs go NUMB)
What might you find on examination of a patient with CKD? (7)
- skin pigmentation
- uraemic frost
- purpura
- hypertension
- peripheral vascular disease
- cardiac arrhythmias: increased K+
- asterixis in encephalopathy
What are the risk factors for CKD?
- diabetes mellitus
- hypertension
- age>50
- childhood kidney disease
- smoking
- obesity
- black/Hispanic ethnicity
- Fx of CKD
- autoimmune disorders
- male sex
- long-term NSAID use
- high uric acid levels
What are the 1st-line investigations for CKD?
- renal chemistry (U&Es)
- estimation of GFR (equation using serum creatinine)
- serum cystatin C and cystatin C-based estimation of GFR (when serum creatinine inaccurate e.g. extremes of muscle mass)
- urinalysis
- urinary albumin (ACR)
- renal ultrasound
What do U&Es (renal chemistry/profile) show for CKD?
- elevated serum creatinine (may be falsely low in conditions of low muscle mass e.g. older, malnourished, liver failure)
- electrolyte abnormalities (tubular disorders –> metabolic acidosis) e.g. hyperkalaemia, hypocalcaemia
What can indicate if kidney injury is chronic and not acute?
Hypocalcaemia
(Kidney cannot produce 1-alpha-hydroxylase)
What is the GFR in CKD?
<60mL/minute/1.73m^2
When is GFR not a good measurement in CKD?
- reduced muscle mass –> overestimation of GFR
- increased muscle mass –> underestimation of GFR
What can urinalysis show for CKD?
Haematuria and/or proteinuria
What results does ACR (urinary albumin) show for CKD?
To check for proteinuria
Moderately increased ACR 30-300mg/g