General nephrology - COPIED Flashcards
What four signs makes up nephrotic syndrome?
proteinuria >> 4.5 g/ 24hr
dyslipidemia (hypercholesteraemia specifically)
hypoalbuminaemia
peripheral oedema
*** rem. haematuria is rare, and BP may be normal or slighly elevated ***
what usually prevents protein loss in the urine?
podocytes
fenestrated membrane
Do you get haematuria with nephrotic syndome?
Possibly. It depends on the damage to the glomerulus.
Why can you get sepsis with nephrotic syndrome?
Loss of immunoglobulins (proteins) in the urine will compromise the immune system.
Why do you get peripheral oedema with nephrotic syndrome?
Due to loss of protein in urine, therefore hypoalbuminemia.
Loss of proteins in the urine. The liver tries to compensate by….
producing more albumin
It also produces more cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
What is the consequence to the heart of the increase in peripheral oedema with nephrotic syndrome?
Reduction in venous return, therefore a reduction in stroke volume.
This reduction in blood flow reduces the GFR.
In addition there is inflammation in the Kidneys that also reduce GFR. THIS STIMULATES RENIN.
What is the consequene of an increase in RENIN production with nephrotic syndrome?
In response to low renal BP, Renin is released.
Renin-Angiotensin-aldersterone causes Na2+ to be retained and thus increase in BP.
This will result in more oedema because of the hypoalbuminuria.
What types of oedema can you get with nephrotic syndome?
periorbital oedema
ascites
peripheral oedema
Oedema in nephrotic syndrome also causes what problems in the thoracic region?
breathlessness
pulmonary oedema
pleural effusion
what does the urine look like in nephrotic syndrome?
frothy
What investigations?
urine dip stick
MSU, FBC
EUC, LFT, Calcium levels
serum (and urine) immunoglobulins to screen for autoimmune diseases.
CXR - pleural effusion/ oedema
ultrasound, biopsy.
What conditions can lead to nephrotic syndrome?
Glomerular disease (e.g. minimal change disease in childhood), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy.
Diabetes
SLE
Amyloidosis
(Hep B and C, HIV) - check this
BUN
Bloode urea nitrogen; medical test.
NB. Liver produces urea as a waste product of protein digestion.
What benign things can increase urinary protein output?
Pyrexia
exercise
adoption of upright posture(postural proteinuria)
What do red cell casts always indicate?
renal disease
WC casts may indicate acute pyelonephritis
What are the three big causes of ESKD?
Diabetes (number ONE)
Hypertension
Glomerulopathy
What is Glomerulopathy?
immunologically mediated disorders with involvement of:
cellular immunity
humoral immunity
inflammatory mediators
Why do you get hypoalbuminemia with nephrotic syndrome?
Which protein is lost in the urine due to kidney damage
Why do you get lipiduria with nephrotic syndrome?
Passing of lipoproteins in the urine due to kidney damage (thus also hypoalbuminaemia)
What is acute glomerulonephritis?
– acute nephritic syndrome
Abrupt onset of glomerular haematuria (RBC casts or dysmorphic RBC),
non-nephrotic range proteinuria, oedema (periorbital, leg or sacral), hypertension and
transient renal impairment.
- OFTEN inflammation of glomeruli/ small b. vessels.
What is nephrotic syndrome?
Massive proteinuria (>3.5 g/day),
hypoalbuminaemia, oedema,
lipuria and hyperlipidaemia
NO RBCs in the urine
Why are ACE inhibitors used to treat nephrotic syndrome?
to reduce urinary albumin excretion when px ingests > protein.
How do you treat nephrotic syndrome?
Restrict sodium and use a thiazide diuretic.
(May have to be parenteral administration because of gut mucosal oedema)
Normal protein diet
Why is prophylactic anticoagulation desirable with nephrotic syndrome?
Due to loss of clotting factors (eg. antithrombin) in the urine and an increase in hepatic production of fibrinogen.
Avoid bed rest. Thromboembolism is very common in nephrotic syndrome.
Why use ACE inhibitors or ARBs for nephrotic syndrome?
reduce proteinuria by lowering pressure in glomerulus.
Loss of proteins with nephrotic syndrome predisposes patient to what?
Thromboembolisms (due to loss of clotting proteins)
Sepsis/ infections (due to loss of immunoglobulins)
Lipid abnormalities - can accelerate atheromas
Anaemia (loss of transferrin)
Oedema (lower limbs, sacrum) + can be periorbital & hands
What class of group for lowering nephrotic associated hyperlipidaemia?
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor
Diagram of mesengial cells between arterioles and bowman’s capsule.
What is amyloidosis?
group of diseases in which abnormal protein, known as amyloid fibrils (insoluble), is deposited extracellularly. Acquired or inherited disorder of protein folding.
In the kidneys the amyloid deposition reduces the kidney’s ability to filter and hold on to proteins (nephrotic syndrome). Heart also affected (and Liver).
What is azotemia?
azot = “nitrogen”, -emia=”blood”
>> nitrogen-rich compounds in the blood (urea, creatinine), due to << kidney filtering.
Can cause uremia and AKI
ATI - acute tubular injury (acute tubular necrosis ATN) is most common cause of intrinsic renal azotemia