Kidneys Flashcards
Renin
kidney blood pressure hormone. It helps control how much sodium (salt) and fluid the body saves and how relaxed the blood vessels are. People with kidney disease usually need blood pressure pills because their kidneys no longer control blood pressure.
Erythropoietin (EPO)
kidney hormone that tells the bone marrow to make new red blood cells (using stem cells). Many people with kidney disease have anemia, a shortage of red blood cells, that makes them feel very tired. Injections of EPO are used to treat anemia, along with iron.
Calcitriol
activated form of vitamin D
a hormone that helps the body absorb calcium from food. Without calcitriol, the body steals calcium from the bones. Over a long period of time, this can cause bone disease. Calcitriol injections or pills are used to help avoid bone disease in people with kidney disease.
Amount of fluid/waste filtered
2 quarts
Causes of kidney failure
#1 - Type 2 diabetes #2 - hypertension (Normal BP = 120/80; Normal BP in CKD
Weight of kidney
5 ounces
size of fist
Acute Renal Failure (ARF)
sudden loss of kidney function caused by an illness, injury, or toxin that stresses the kidneys. Many cases of ARF can be treated and reversed.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
CKD is a long and usually slow process where the kidneys slowly lose function
More than 75% of the one million nephrons in each kidney must be damaged to cause illness. This means that small declines in renal function do not cause a problem right away. It can take many years to go from CKD to ESRD.
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
When the kidneys function at 15% or less
Warning Signs of CKD
Changes in urination – like foamy urine, blood in the urine, more or less urine than usual, or getting up at night to urinate
Fatigue – lack of usual energy and feelings of overwhelming tiredness can be related to kidney failure
Itching – the build-up of wastes in the blood can cause severe itching
Swelling in the hands and/or feet – failing kidneys don’t remove extra fluid, which builds up in the body
Shortness of breath – extra fluid can build up in the lungs, or anemia can cause shortness of breath
Pain in the small of the back – the pain is not made worse by movement
CKD Stage 1
Kidney damage with normal or increased GFR
GFR ≥ 90
Treat: Diagnose and treat other illnesses; reduce heart disease risk
CKD Stage 2
Kidney damage with mildly reduced GFR
GFR = 60 - 89
Treat: estimate the rate of CKD progression
CKD Stage 3
Moderately reduced GFR
GFR = 30 - 59
Assess and treat complications
CKD Stage 4
Severely reduced GFR
GFR = 15 - 29
Prepare for kidney replacement therapy
CKD Stage 5
Kidney Failure
GFR
Treatments
Anemia treatment – anemia (a shortage of red blood cells) starts very early in kidney failure and can make you very tired.
Medication – for example, blood pressure pills called ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) can help protect kidney function.
Eating changes – some doctors believe a low protein diet can help slow kidney disease.
Avoiding certain pain pills – overuse of some over-the-counter pain pills with ibuprofen, naproxen, acetaminophen, or pain medications with caffeine in them can damage kidneys.
Regular blood pressure checks – high blood pressure can cause or speed up kidney failure.
Cut back or quit smoking – smoking tobacco can make kidney problems worse.
Uremia
When a person reaches ESRD, both kidneys have stopped or almost stopped and the body fills up with extra fluid and wastes that would normally be filtered out
Uremia Signs
Head – headaches, fatigue, and fuzzy thinking can be caused by uremia.
Mouth – food may taste bad or like metal, causing a loss of appetite.
Lungs – shortness of breath can be caused by a build-up of fluid in the lungs or by anemia.
Stomach – loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting can occur if uremia is very severe.
Bladder – less (or no) urine may be produced. Some people still make urine, but it is mostly fluid—the wastes are not removed.
Hands – swelling can be caused by fluid build-up.
Feet – swelling can be caused by fluid build-up.
Skin – build-up of uremic wastes can cause severe itching.
Blood vessels – high blood pressure can occur, because the failing kidneys no longer keep blood pressure at normal levels.
ADA Glucose Test Recommendation
Annual glucose tests for:
- People with a family history of diabetes
- People who are obese
- Women who have delivered a baby weighing over 9 lbs.
- African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, Asian-Americans, and Pacific Islanders
How Dialysis Works
During dialysis, blood and dialysate are kept apart by a membrane (in PD, the peritoneal membrane has small blood vessels). Wastes and fluid flow out through tiny holes in the membrane. Blood cells and protein, which the body needs to keep, are too big to pass through, and stay in the blood.
Dialysate helps to pull the wastes out of the blood. Once dialysate is used, it is thrown away.
Peritoneal Dialysis
Uses your body (the peritoneum) instead of a machine
The peritoneum is a membrane that lines your abdominal cavity—it’s like a bag, holding your internal organs.
A PD catheter is placed in the lower abdomen, or less commonly, a “bathtub” or presternal catheter is placed in the chest
To do PD, this bag is filled up with a special fluid, called dialysate (dye-al’-i-sate). Wastes and extra fluid in the blood slowly flow into the dialysate. This is called a PD Exchange
Patients are trained to do it themselves at home
CAPD
Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
Describes when people do PD exchanges by hand at home every few hours
3-5 exchanges per day; each takes ~30 min
Few food and fluid limits are needed; traveling is okay
Peritonitis
Infection associated with CAPD
CCPD (or Automated PD)
Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis
Uses a machine called a Cycler to do exchanges at night
Can be packed for travel or CAPD can be done while traveling
Medicare covers this immediately