GP notes Flashcards
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Who is at an increased risk of AKI?
CKD, other organ failure/chronic disease, history of AKI, use of drugs with nephrotoxic potential within the last week, use of iodinated contrast agents within the last week, >65 years, oliguria
What are drugs with nephrotoxic potential?
NSAIDs, aminoglycoside, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, diuretics
What are the ways that AKI may present?
Reduced urine output (oliguria), fluid overload, a rise in molecules that the kidney normally excretes/maintains a balance of
What is the definition of oliguria?
Urine output of less than 0.5ml/kg/hour
What symptoms are seen in AKI?
Reduced urine output, pulmonary and peripheral oedema, arrhythmias, features of uraemia
What are features of uraemia?
Pericarditis, encephalopathy
What is the diagnostic criteria for AKI?
50% or greater risk in serum creatinine known or presumed in last 7 days, rise in serum creatinine of 26 mmol/L or greater within 48 hours, fall in urine output to less than 0.5ml/kg/hr
What is the treatment in hyperkalaemia for stabilisation of the cardiac membrane?
IV calcium gluconate
What is the treatment in hyperkalaemia for short term shift in potassium from extracellular to intracellular fluid compartment?
Nebulised salbutamol, combined insulin/dextrose infusion
What is the treatment in hyperkalaemia for removal or potassium from the body?
Calcium resonium (orally or enema), loop diuretics, dialysis
What are possible complications of severe AKI?
Hyperkalaemia, pulmonary oedema, acidosis or uraemia (pericarditis, encephalopathy)
What is acute tubular necrosis?
Damage and death of the epithelial cells of the renal tubules. Damage occurs due to ischaemia due to hypoperfusion or due to nephrotoxins
What is the commonest intrinsic cause of AKI?
Acute tubular necrosis
What is seen on urinalysis in acute tubular necrosis?
Muddy brown casts
Is acute tubular necrosis reversible?
Yes: epithelial cells can regenerate, though this takes between 1 and 3 weeks
What are the investigations in AKI?
Urinalysis for protein, blood, leucocytes, nitrites and glucose. Ultrasound can be done to assess for obstruction when suspected post renal cause
What is the tx for AKI?
- IV fluids
- withhold medications that may worsen condition, and without medications that can accumulate in reduced renal function
- relieve obstruction in post-renal AKI
- dialysis if severe
What are risk factors for CKD?
Diabetes, HTN, certain nephrotoxic medications, glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease
What are the symptoms of CKD? When do they present?
Symptoms often present very late. It is often non specific: fatigue, pallor (due to anaemia), foamy urine (proteinuria), nausea, loss of appetite, pruritus (ithching), oedema, HTN, peripheral neuropathy
What is the ratio that quantifies proteinuria?
Urine albumine:creatinine ratio
What is the diagnosis criteria for CKD?
For over 3 months:
- estimated glomerular filtration rate is sustained below 60ml/min/1.73m2
- urine albumin:creatinine ratio is sustained above 3mg/mmol
What is the estimated decline in eGFR annually in CKD?
15ml/min/1.73m^2
What are the potential complications of CKD?
anaemia, renal bone disease, cardiovascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, end stage kidney disease, dialysis related complications
When should someone be referred for renal specialist assessment in CKD?
- eGFR <30ml/min/1.73m^2
- urine ACR >70 mg/mmol
- accelerated progression
- uncontrolled hypertension despite 4 or more hypertensives
What are medications that can slow the disease progression of CKD?
ACE inhibitors (or ARBs), and SGLT-2 inhibitors (specifically dapagliflozin)
Why can CKD cause anaemia?
Healthy kidneys produce erythropoietin, which stimulates RBC production. In CKD, erythropoietin production reduces, which causes normocytic normochromic anaemia
Why can CKD cause renal bone disease?
Healthy kidneys metabolise vitamin D into its active form. Active vitamin D is essential in calcium absorption in the intestines and reabsorption in the kidneys. It is also responsible for regulating bone turnover and promoting bone reabsorption to increase the serum calcium level. Chronic kidney disease leads to less vitamin D activity and low serum calcium. There is also high serum phosphate due to reduced excretion. Parathyroid gland reacts by excreting parathydoid hormone, which stimulates osteoclast activity, increasing calcium absorption from bone.
All of this leads to osteomalacia (soft bones) and osteosclerosis (
What is a characteristic xray finding in CKD?
Rugger jersey spine: this involves sclerosis of both ends of each vertebral body (denser white) and osteomalacia in the centre of the vertebral body (less white). The name refers to the stripes found on a rugby shirt.
What is osteomalacia?
Softening of bones, occurs because of a problem with vitamin D
What is osteosclerosis?
A disorder that is characterised by abnormal hardening of bone and an elevation in bone density
What is the best way to differentiate between AKi and CKD?
Ultrasound: most patients with CKD have bilateral small kidneys.
CKD is also more likely to have hypocalcaemia
What UTI causative organism is most linked to renal stones?
Proteus sp.
What is the management if someone presents with queried PE but there is a delay for scan?
Start treatment (rivaroxaban)
What is the first line management of hypertension in diabetics?
ACE-I/ARBs
What is the recommended treatment for all patients in acute heart failure?
IV loop diuretics (furosemide or bumetanide)
What are the features of pericarditis?
Chest pain, relieved by sitting forwards, non-productive cough, dyspnoea, flu-like symptoms, pericardial rub
What ECG changes are seen in pericarditis?
Saddle shaped ST elective, PR depression (most specific)
What investigation should be done for all patients with pericarditis?
Transthoracic echocardiography
What is the management of pericardial effusion?
NSAIDs, and colchicine (reduces risk of recurrence)
What is the management for a patient who has a stroke whilst on warfarin?
Give IV vitamin K and prothrombin complex concentrate
What is done if there is a high INR of >8.0 and minor bleeding for a patient on warfarin?
Give IV vitamin K
What is the management for high INR of >8.0 but no bleeding for a patient on warfarin?
Give oral vitamin K
What is the target range of warfarin?
2.5, action needed if more than 5
What drug commonly interacts with statins to raise creatine kinase levels?
Clarithromycin
Who is it recommended should take statins?
Anyone with a 10-year cardiovascular risk >10%
What is first line therapy in chronic heart failure?
ACE inhibitor/ARBi and beta blocker
What is second line therapy in heart failure?
Aldosterone antagonist (spironolactone)
What is the risk factor tool for whether to anticoagulate a patient in AF?
CHA2DS2-VASc
What is first line treatment of AF?
Bisoprolol
What is a common contraindication for beta blockers?
Asthma
What is chronic heart failure?
Refers to the clinical features of impaired heart function, specifically the left ventricle
How does left ventricular failure in heart failure lead to pulmonary oedema?
Leads to a chronic backflow of blood waiting to flow through left side of heart. LA + pulmonary veins + lungs experience increased volume and pressure blood. Fluid leaks -> pulmonary oedema
What is a normal ejection fraction?
> 50%
What is heart failure with reduced ejection fraction?
When the ejection fraction is less than 50%
What causes heart failure?
Ischaemic heart disease, valvular heart disease (mostly aortic stenosis), hypertension, arrythmias, cardiomyopathy
What is the presentation of chronic HF?
- breathlessness, worsened by exertion
- cough (frothy)
- orthopnoea (breathless when lying flat)
- PND
- peripheral oedema
- fatigue
What signs are seen on examination in heart failure?
Tachycardia, tachypnoea, HTN, murmurs, 3rd heart sound, bilateral basal crackles (pulmonary oedema), raised JVP (due to backlog to right heart), peripheral oedema
What is done to establish a diagnosis of heart failure?
- N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide
- ECG
- ECHO
- CXR + lung function tests
- bloods
What is the New York Heart Association Classification?
Class I: no limitation on activity
Class II: comfortable at rest but symptomatic with ordinary activity
Class III: symptomatic with any activity
Class IV: symptomatic at rest
How does NT-proBP result guide ECHO?
If 400-2000 ng/litre: ECHO within 6 weeks, >2000 ng/litre within 2 weeks
What are the four pillars of heart failure treatment?
ACEI, beta blocker, aldosterone antagonist, SGLT2i
How do SLGT-2i work in heart failure?
Reduce glucose reabsorption and increase urinary glucose excretion (increased risk of UTI)
What vaccines should be given in heart failure patients?
Influenza annually and one off pneumococcal vaccine
What should be monitored if ACEI and aldosterone antagonists taken together?
Renal function: both can cause hyperkalaemia (tall tented t waves)
What is diagnostic of hypertension?
Blood pressure above 140/90 in a clinical settings, confirmed with ambulatory or home readings above 135/85
What are potential secondary causes of hypertension?
Renal disease, obesity, pregnancy induce (pre-eclampsia), endocrine, drugs (alcohol, steroids, NSAIDs, oestrogen)
What investigation should be done for very high blood pressure that is not responding to treatment?
Duplex ultrasound or MRI/CT angiogram, for renal artery stenosis
How often does NICE recommend measuring blood pressure for HTN?
Every 5 years, or every year in T2DM