Kidney failure

Question 1

What genetic conditions affect the kidney?

Answer 1

polysystic kidney disease

healthy kidney tissue is replaced by fluid-filled cycsts or dmaged by pressure from cysts

Question 2

Why may kidneys fail?

Answer 2

• kidney infection
  
  • where the structure of the podocytes and tubules themselves may be damaged or destroyed
• raised blood pressure
  
  • damage the structure of the epithelial cells and the basement membrane of the Bowman’s capsule
• genetic conditions

Question 3

What happens if the kidneys are infected or affected by high blood pressure?

Answer 3

• protein in the urine
  
  • basement membrane or podocytes of the Bowman’s capsule are damage
  • they no longer acts as filters
  • large plasma protein can pass into the filtrate and are passed out in the urine
• blood in the urine
  
  • another symptom that the filtering process is no longer urines

Question 4

What are the effects of a build up of urea in the body?

Answer 4

• urea is toxic and can poison cells

Question 5

What are the effects of the build up of mineral ions in the blood?

Answer 5

• loss of electrolyte balance
  
  • body cannot excrete excess sodium, potassium and chloride ions
  • this causes osmotic imbalances in the tissues and eventual death
• weakend bones
  
  • calcium/phosphorus balance in blood lost

Question 6

What are the other effects of kidney failure?

Answer 6

• high blood pressure
  
  • kidneys play an important role in controlling blood pressure by maintaining the water balance of the blood
  • if the kidneys fail, the blood pressure increases and this can cause a range of health problems including heart problems and strokes
• pain and stiffness in joints as abnormal proteins build up in the blood
• anaemia
  
  • kidneys are involved in production of a hormone called erythropoiten that stimulates the formation of red blood cells
  • when the kidneys fail it can reduce the production of red blood cells causing tiredness and lethargy

Question 7

How is kidney disease indicated?

Answer 7

by measuring the glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

Question 8

How is the rate measured?

Answer 8

• blood test measures creatinine in the blood
• creatinine is a breakdown product of muscles and it is used to give an estimated glomerular filtration rate
• if levels go up it is a signal they aren’t working properly

Question 9

What needs to be taken into account when measuring the rate?

Answer 9

• GFR decreases steadily with age
• men have more muscle mass and therefore creatinine than women