Kidneys Flashcards
What is glomerulonephritis
Glomerular inflammation, generally caused by immunological mediated injury to the glomeruli
Pathogenic mechanism: deposition of circulating or in situ formation of immune complexes or deposition of antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies
What are the symptoms of glomerulonephritis
hypertension, incidental finding of microscopic haematuria, incidental finding of proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome (protein in the urine), progressive renal impairment, acute kidney injury
What are non glomerular causes of microscopic haematuria
bladder tumours, renal stones, renal tumours, BPH, UTI, renal injury
What are glomerular causes of microscopic haematuria
IgA nephropathy, Alports (genetic condition affecting the basement membrane), thin basement membrane disease, post infectious GN, membranoproliferative PN
What is IgA nephropathy
Glomerular deposition of IgA causing inflammation due to abnormalities in IgA
Variable clinical presentation: microscopic haematuria, hypertension, slow progressive renal impairment, rapidly progressive renal impairment, nephrotic range proteinuria
What are the tests and management of IgA nephropathy
Lab tests: raised serum IgA, renal biopsy shows mesangial proliferation with IgA deposition
Management: control of BP
What is Henoch Schonelin Purpura
most often self-limiting, but some may progress to ESKD
Inflammation of the small blood vessels, esp in kidney, skin and gut
Most common in young children
IgA deposition in the kidney in a similar pattern to IgA nephropathy
Associated with leucocytoclasic vasculitic rash
What is nephrotic syndrome
Heavy proteinuria >3.5g
Hypalbuminaemia
Oedema: periorbital in children, peripheral in adults
Hyperlipidaemia (decrease in oncotic pressure stimulates hepatic lipoprotein synthesis resulting in a high cholesterol)
What are the primary causes of nephrotic syndrome
membranous nephropathy, FSGS, MCGN, minimal change disease
What are the secondary causes of nephrotic syndrome
diabetic nephropathy, SLE, amyloidosis, malignancy, drugs
What is minimal change disease
the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in children.
What are the signs of minimal change disease
Proteinuria (abnormal excretion of proteins, mainly albumin, into the urine), oedema (swelling of soft tissues as a consequence of water retention), and hypoalbuminaemia (low serum albumin). Normal light microscopy
What are the causes of minimal change disease
Idiopathic esp. in children
NSAIDS
Lithium, pecillicinamine, pamidronate, sulfazalizine, immunisations
Paraneoplastic (Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
Infections (syphilis, TB, mycoplasma, Hep C)
Allergy
What is Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults. It is characterized by the appearance of tissue scarring in the glomeruli. The term focal is used as some of the glomeruli have scars, while others appear intact; the term segmental refers to the fact that only part of the glomerulus suffers the damage
What are the signs of symptoms of FSGS
In children and some adults, FSGS presents as a nephrotic syndrome, which is characterized by edema (associated with weight gain), hypoalbuminemia (low serum albumin, a protein in the blood), hyperlipidemia and hypertension (high blood pressure). In adults, it may also present as kidney failure and proteinuria, without a full-blown nephrotic syndrome.
What is the management for nephrotic syndrome
Diuretics
ACE
Anticoagulation (increase risk of VTE if albumin is less than 25 in membranous, less than 20 in other causes)
Statin for high cholesterol
Renal biopsy - children minimal change disease common, so steroids given before biopsy
What is membranous glomerulonephritis
Slowly progressive disease of the kidney affecting mostly people between ages of 30 and 50 years, usually Caucasian.
What is GPA
a long-term systemic disorder that involves both granulomatosis and polyangiitis.
WHat is ANCA
anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies and these have been shown to be pathogenic
What is anti GBM disease
Auto antibodies to the glomerular basement membrane causing an RPGN (rapidly progressing glomerular nephritis) with crescent formation
Previously known as goodpastures syndrome
Associated with anti-GBM antibodies and alveolar basement membrane antibodies
An cause absolute anuria with pulmonary haemorrhage
Very short time period
Can die from pulmonary embolism
What does haemturia on urine dipstick indicate
malignancy, renal stone, prostatitis, trauma, menstruation, active inflammation in the glomerulus for any reason, rhabdomyolysis
What does proteinuria on urine dipstick indicate
diabetes, hypertension, obesity, UTI, GN, APKD, myeloma and amyloidosis, SLE
What does gravity indicate on urine dipstick
Gravity: if high glucose in diabetes or dehydration. If low can suggest GN or diabetes insipidus
What is the ideal GFR
A GFR below 60 for 3 months or more or a GFR above 60 with kidney damage indicates chronic kidney disease