GU Flashcards
Define benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
Increase in cell number and size in transitional/peri-urethral prostate area WITHOUT the presence of malignancy
Describe the pathophysiology of Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Epithelial and stomal cell increase
Increased A1 adrenoreceptors –> smooth muscle contraction and mass effect of prostate size = obstruction
Give 4 symptoms of BPH
- Increased frequency of micturition
- Nocturia,
- Hesitancy
- Post-void dribbling
- acute urinary retention or retention with overflow incontinence
- enlarged smooth prostate
What investigations might you do in someone who you suspect has BPH?
- Digital rectal exam - show smooth but enlarged prostate
- PSA - not overly accurate but usually done for completion (remember you can’t do this at the same time as DRE)
- Bladder diaries etc.
What are the aims of the management of BPH?
Improve urinary symptoms
Improve QOL
Reduce complications of bladder outflow obstruction
What lifestyle changes can be made to manage symptoms of BPH?
Reduce caffeine and alcohol intake
Distraction methods
Bladder training
Describe the treatment for BPH
1st line = Alpha-1-antagonists (A-blockers) e.g. tamulosin
- relaxes smooth muscle in bladder neck & prostate
2nd line = 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors e.g. finasteride
- blocks conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone -> decreases prostate size
TURP = gold standard
Give the surgical treatment for BPH
Transurethral resection of prostate (TURP)
What are the indications in someone with BPH to do a TURP?
RUSHES
- Retention
- UTI’s
- Stones
- Haematuria
- Elevated creatinine
- Symptom deterioration
What is the function of the prostate?
Secretes proteolytic enzymes into the semen which breaks down clotting factors in the ejaculate
Define prostate cancer
Adenocarcinoma in the peripheral zone of the prostate gland
Where can prostate cancer metastasise to?
Lymph nodes and bone
Rarely = brain, liver, lung
By what routes can prostate cancer spread?
- Lymphatic - to external iliac and internal iliac and presacral node
- Haematogenous - to bone, lung. liver, kidneys
- Direct - within in the prostate capsule
What can cause prostate cancer?
- High testosterone levels
2. Family history - 2/3x increased risk if 1st degree relative is affected
what are the symptoms of prostate cancer?
- LUTS
- Bone pain, weight loss, night sweats anaemia = mets
Most picked up in asymptomatic stage
What investigations might you do in someone who you suspect has prostate cancer?
Digital Rectal Exam and PSA are done in community,
Transrectal USS and biopsy = DIAGNOSTIC
Gleason grading system - higher the score the worse the prognosis
What grading system is used in prostate cancer?
Gleason grading = higher the score, the more aggressive the cancer
What is the treatment for localised prostate cancer?
radical prostatectomy
chemotherapy
radiotherapy
What is the treatment for metastatic prostate cancer?
- prostatectomy
- chemotherapy
- radiotherapy
- zoladex (GnRH agonist)
Give 2 advantages and 1 disadvantage of radical treatment for localised prostate cancer
Advantages:
- Curative
- Reduced patient anxiety
Disadvantages:
1. Can have adverse effects
How do LH antagonists work in treating prostate cancer?
First stimulate and then inhibit pituitary gonadotrophin E.g. Leuprolide
Is a raised PSA confirmatory of prostate cancer?
NO
Prostate cancer indication
Other than prostate cancer, what can cause an elevated PSA?
- Benign prostate enlargement
- UTI
- Prostatitis
Give 2 advantages and 2 disadvantages of screening in prostate cancer
Advantages:
- Early diagnosis of localised disease (cure)
- Early treatment of advanced disease (effective palliation)
Disadvantages:
- Over diagnosis of insignificant disease
- Harm caused by investigation/treatment
What is PSA?
A glycoprotein secreted by the prostate into the blood stream
Name the 2 types of testicular cancers that arise from germ cells
- Seminoma = most common, slow growing
2. Non-seminoma = yolk sac carcinoma/teratoma, rapid growth
Where does testicular cancer spread?
Locally into epididymis, spermatic cord and scortal wall Pelvic and inguinal Metastasises
what are the risk factors for testicular cancer?
- Cryptorchidism (undescended testes)
- Family history
- previous testicular cancer
- HIV
- age 20-45
- Caucasian
- infant hernia
Give 3 symptoms of testicular cancer
- Painless testis lump - hard and craggy (non-transilluminable)
- Testicular or abdominal pain
- haematospermia,
- Abdominal mass
- Dyspnoea and cough - lung mets
What investigations might you do on someone you suspect to have testicular cancer?
- Tumour markers = Alpha-fetoprotein (a-FP) and Beta subunit of human chorionic gonadotrophin (B-hCG)
- Testicular biopsy
- Imaging = US, CT/MRI
How is testicular cancer staged?
1 = no mets 2 = nodes under diaphragm 3 = above diaphragm 4 = lungs
What is the treatment for testicular cancer?
Orchidectomy = testis and spermatic cord excised Chemo and radiotherapy
What is epididymitis?
Inflammation of the epididymis
Occurs mainly in young males
Give 2 causes of epididymitis
- E. coli
2. Chlamydia
What is an epididymal cyst?
Smooth extra-testicular, spherical cyst in the head of the epididymus
What is hydrocele?
Scrotal swelling as a result of excessive fluid in the tunica vaginalis
what is primary hydrocele?
In absence of disease in testis
Large and tense testis
Young boys mainly effected
Associated with a patent processus vaginalis, which typically resolves during the 1st year of life
Name 3 causes of secondary hydrocele
- Testicular tumours
- Infection
- Testicular torsion
- TB
- trauma - is rarer and present in older boys and men
What is varicocele?
An abnormal enlargement of the pampiniform venous plexus in the scrotum
Caused by venous reflux
Why might renal cell carcinoma cause left sided varicocele?
If the renal tumour obstructs where the gonadal vein drains into the renal vein blood can back up and so you may see left sided varicocele
What is testicular torsion?
Twisting of the spermatic cord resulting in occlusion of testicular blood vessels
Leads to ischaemia and postnatal loss of testis
Define glomerular disease
= Glomerulonephritis
Group of parenchymal kidney diseases that all result in the inflammation of the glomeruli and nephrons
Give 3 consequences of glomerulonephritis
- Damage to filtration mechanism –> haematuria and proteinuria
- Damage to glomerulus restricts blood flow –> hypertension
- Loss of usual filtration capacity –> AKI
Briefly describe the pathophysiology of glomerulonephritis
Immunologically mediated –> immunoglobulin deposits and inflammatory cells
How can glomerulonephritis present?
- Nephritic syndrome
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Asymptomatic haematuria
what are the causes of nephritic syndrome?
Renal causes
- IgA nephropathy
Systemic causes
- SLE
- Post strep GN
- Small vessel vasculitis
- Goodpasture’s/anti-GMB disease
what is the clinical presentation of nephritic syndrome
This is a syndrome fitting a clinical picture of inflammation within the kidney.
characterised by:
Haematuria- reflects inflammation of the kidney (red casts on microscopy)
Oliguria- due to reduced GFR
Proteinuria- less than 3g/24 hours
Hypertension –due to fluid overload
What investigations might you do in someone who has nephritic syndrome?
- Urinalysis (dipstick) = haematuria and proteinuria
- Blood tests = high creatinine and urea
- Kidney biopsy = diagnostic (crescent shaped glomeruli, Ig depositions, glomerulosclerosis)
- serology = anti-GBM antibodies, c-ANCA, p-ANCA
How do you manage nephritic syndrome?
Treat underlying cause
Blood pressure control- ACE-I/ARB. This reduces proteinuria and preserves renal function
Corticosteroids- this is to reduce the inflammation causing damage to the kidney
Describe the pathophysiology behind nephritic syndrome
Kidney inflammation –> large podocytic pores –> RBC, WBC, protein leaks into urine
What are the signs needed in order to make a diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome?
proteinuria (>3.5g/day)
hypercholesterolaemia
hypoalbuminemia - results in severe oedema
Describe the pathophysiology of nephrotic syndrome
- Inflammation – from immune cells (Ab’s, Ig’s - IgG), complement proteins, HTN, atherosclerosis, medications/immunisations, infection
- Damage to podocytes – protein leakage (albumin, Ab’s)
- Increased liver activity – to increase albumin, - Consequential increase in cholesterol + coagulation factors
- Reduced oncotic pressure – oedema - Consequential blood volume decrease, RAAS stimulation, exacerbation
What can nephrotic syndrome be secondary to?
- DM
- SLE
- Amyloidosis
- Infection
- Drugs
what are the primary causes of nephrotic syndrome?
- Minimal change disease
- Membranous glomerulonephritis
- focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
What would you see on the needle microscopy taken from someone with minimal change disease?
LM - normal
FM - normal
EM - Fused podocyte foot processes
How is minimal change disease treated?
High dose corticosteroids = prednisolone
- Frequent relapse or steroid-dependent disease is treated with CYCLOPHOSPHAMIDE or CICLOSPORIN/TACROLIMUS
What is membranous nephropathy?
Thickening of glomerular capillary wall
IgG and C3 complement deposition in sub-epithelial surface –> leaky glomerulus
How would you diagnose membranous nephropathy?
Serum anti-PLA2R antibodies
Renal biopsy = thickened glomerular basement membrane (sub epithelial IgG and C3 complement deposits)
What is the management of membranous nephropathy?
Managed with ACE-I/ARB in all.
In patients with high risk of progression, prednisolone and cyclopshosphamide.
What are the main symptoms of nephrotic syndrome?
Pitting oedema (periorbital, ascites, peripheral)
frothy urine - reflects proteinuria
What investigations might be carried out in someone with nephrotic syndrome?
Urinalysis (dipstick) = proteinuria
Blood tests
- hyperlipidaemia and hypoalbuminaemia
- protein:creatinine ratio
USS kidney
Needle biopsy and microscopy = GOLD STANDARD
- light microscopy (LM)
- fluorescence microscopy (FM)
- electron microscopy (EM)
Describe the treatment for nephrotic syndrome
Fluid and salt restriction
Loop diuretics- to manage oedema
Treat cause
ACE-I/ARB to reduce protein loss
Manage complications
Give 3 complications of nephrotic syndrome
- Infections (Ig loss, complement activity decrease)
- Thromboembolism (more clotting factor) manage with heparin
- Hyperlipidaemia - loss of albumin increases cholesterol formation. Manage with statins
What is IgA nephropathy?
This is where there is deposition of IgA into the mesangium of the kidney. This results in inflammation and damage
What is the treatment for IgA nephropathy?
- BP control - ACEi / ARB
- steroids if renal function declines
Where can urinary tract stones be found?
Upper = renal and ureteric
Lower = bladder, prostatic and urethral
They most commonly are deposited at the pelviureteric junction, pelvic brim and vesicouretertic junction
What are urinary tract stones composed of?
80-85% = calcium oxalate (radio-opaque),
Describe the pathophysiology of stone formation in the upper urinary tract?
Stones form from crystals in supersaturated urine
Describe the epidemiology of stones in the urinary tract
10-15% lifetime risk Males > females (2:1) Higher prevalence in Middle East due to higher oxalate and lower calcium, containing diet Peak prevalence 20-40yrs 50% risk of recurrence
Give 5 potential causes of urinary tract stones
- Congenital abnormalities - horseshoe kidney, spina bifida
- Hypercalcaemia/high urate/high oxalate
- Hyperuricaemia
- Infection
- Trauma
what is the clinical presentation of urinary tract stones?
- Renal colic = severe unilateral abdominal pain starting in loin + radiating to ipsilateral groin/ testicle/ labia, classically sudden onset early in morning
- Restlessness,
- nausea + vomiting,
- haematuria,
- dysuria
Give 3 differential diagnosis of urinary tract stones
- AAA (until proven otherwise)
- Diverticulitis
- Appendicitis
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Testicular torsion
What investigations might you do on some who you suspect has a urinary tract stone?
- First line = KUB XR - can see stone in renal tract
- Gold standard = non-contrast CT KUB, USS KUB in pregnancy (can only see radiopaque stones with USS)
- Dipstick: haematuria, leucocytes, nitrites
- Bloods: FBC, CRP, U&Es
Give 5 ways in which urinary tract stones can be prevented
thiazide diuretics - reduce Ca levels
- Stay well hydrated
- Low salt diet
- Healthy protein intake
- Reduced BMI
- Active lifestyle
- Urine alkalisation
When are urinary tract stone removed?
<5mm = watch and wait
> 5mm:
- Oral nifedipine (CCB) or alpha blocker (tamsulosin)
- Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) - break stone into smaller fragment using shockwaves
- Ureteroscopy (laser/basket)
What is renal colic?
Pain due to obstruction in the urinary tract
What investigations might you do to find out what is causing someone’s renal colic?
- Bloods - including calcium, phosphate, urate
- Urinalysis
- MSU MCS (mid-stream urine microscopy, culture & specificity)
- NCCT-KUB (non-contrast CT scan of kidney, ureter and bladder) = gold standard
Describe the treatment for renal colic
- Analgesia - NSAIDS (diclofenac)
- Anti-emetics
- Check for sepsis
Give 3 causes of renal colic
- Urinary tract stones
- UTI
- Pyelonephritis
Give 3 places where urinary tract stones are likely to get stuck
- Ureteropelvic junction
- Pelvic brim
- Vesoureteric junction
Give 5 functions of the kidney
- Filters and secretes waste/excess substances
- Blood volume/fluid management (BP control)
- Synthesises Erythropoietin
- Acid base regulation (reabsorption go Na, Cl, K, glucose, H2O, AA’s)
- Converts 1-hydroxyvitamin D –> 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (active)
What is the GFR?
Volume of fluid filtered from the glomeruli into Bowman’s space pre unit time
What would you expect a typical GFR to be?
120 ml/min
Write an equations for GFR
(Um X urine flow rate) / Pm
Um = conc of marker substance in urine Pm = conc of marker substance in plasma
Give an example of a marker substance for estimating GFR
Creatinine
Give 3 essential features of a marker substance for estimating GFR
- Not metabolised
- Freely filtered
- Not reabsorbed/secreted
Name a drug that can inhibit creatinine secretion and what is the affect of this on GFR?
Trimethoprim (antibiotic to treat UTIs)
Serum creatinine rises and so kidney function (GFR) appears worse
What is the affect on GFR of afferent arteriole vasoconstriction?
Decreased GFR
What is the affect on GFR of efferent arteriole vasoconstriction?
Increased GFR
What does the eGFR require to be calculated?
Steady state
What is the effect of NSAIDs on the afferent arteriole of glomeruli?
NSAIDs inhibit prostaglandins and so lead to afferent arteriole vasoconstriction = reduced GFR
What is the effect of AECi on the efferent arteriole of glomeruli?
ACEi cause efferent arteriole vasodilation = reduced GFR
Define chronic kidney disease
Long standing, usually progressive, impairment in renal function for more than 3 months
How is CKD diagnosed?
- eGFR < 60mL/min/1.73m2,
or: - eGFR < 90mL/min/1.73m2 + signs of renal damage,
or: - Albuminuria > 30mg/24hrs (Albumin:Creatinine > 3mg/mmol)
Briefly describe the pathophysiology causes CKD
Hyper-filtration for nephrons that work –> glomerular hypertrophy and reduced arteriolar resistance –> raised intraglomerular capillary pressure and strain –> accelerates remnant nephron failure (progressive)
Name 4 cause of CKD
- DM - 24% of patients
- Hypertension
- Glomerulonephritis
- Congenital - polycystic kidney disease
- Urinary tract obstruction
- drugs - NSAIDs, ACEi, antidepressants, many antibiotics
Give 3 signs of CKD
Often asymptomatic until very low kidney function
- Fluid retention
- oedema and raised JVP
- Oliguria - 0.5 mL/kg/h or <500mL/day
- Effects of uraemia
- pruritus = ureamic frost, yellow/grey complexion, nausea, reduced appetite - cardiac arrhythmias - hyperKa
- Fatigue, pallor - anaemia
- Bone pain - hyperphosphatemia (CKD-MBD)
What investigations might be done in someone who has CKD?
FBC = anaemia
U+Es = raised phosphate, uric acid, urea, creatine and decreased Calcium
Urine dipstick = haematuria and proteinuria
GFR Imaging - USS, CT KUB, ECG, Xrays
Describe the management of CKD
Slow progression of disease
- DM treatment
- HTN treatment
- Glumeronephritis treatment
Reduce risk of CVD
- Atorvastatin- 20mg
Manage complications
- Mineral bone disease- low Vit D
- HTN
- Proteinuria
- Anaemia-> ESA
- RRT- haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, transplant
What is renal replacement therapy?
Dialysis or renal transplantation
Name 2 types of dialysis?
- Haemodialysis
2. Peritoneal dialysis
What is the access point in haemodialysis?
AV fistula or tunelled catheter
How does haemodialysis work?
Exchange of waste solutes through diffusion into dialysate most common (40%), typically 3x4hrs per week
Give 3 examples of waste products that are removed from the blood in dialysis
- Urea
- Creatinine
- Potassium
- Phosphate
Give 5 potential complications of haemodialysis
- Hypotension
- Cramps
- Nausea
- Chest pain
- Fever
- Blocked or infected dialysis catheter
Give 3 groups of people who haemodialysis is good for?
- People who live alone/frail/elderly
- People who fear operating machines
- People who are unsuitable for peritoneal dialysis (abdominal surgery/hernia)
What is the access point for peritoneal dialysis?
A peritoneal catheter is placed into the peritoneal cavity through a SC tunnel
what is peritoneal dialysis?
peritoneal catheter inserted
Glucose solution pumped in to peritoneum for exchange of solutes across peritoneal membrane
removal of dialysis solution
Continuous or overnight typically
Give 4 potential complications of peritoneal dialysis
- Infection (peritonitis/catheter exit site infection)
- Peri-catheter leak
- Abdominal wall herniation
- Intestinal perforation
Give 3 groups of people who peritoneal dialysis is good for
- Young people/those in full time work
- People who want control/responsibility of their care
- People with severe HF
Where in the abdomen does a transplanted kidney lie?
In the iliac fossa
What has to be assessed for a renal transplant to occur?
Virology status = CMV, hepatitis, EBV
CVD
TB
ABO and HLA haplotype
What tests can be done to evaluate kidney function in a potential kidney donor?
- Serum creatinine
- Creatinine clearance
- Urinalysis
- Urine culture
- GFR
Give 3 contraindications for renal transplant
- ABO incompatibility
- Active infection
- Recent malignancy
- Morbid obesity
- Age >70
- AIDS
What are the 2 main causes of death after a kidney transplant?
- CV disease
2. Infection
Name 4 potential complications of a kidney transplant
- Thrombosis
- Obstruction
- Infections - URTI, chest
- Rejection (12% in 1st year)