Lab Evaluation of Renal Function Flashcards
What are the lab markers of renal function?
urea (BUN)
creatinine
albuminuria
cystatin C (less widely available)
Describe renal handling of urea?
it’s freely filtered in the glomerulus and then 40-80% is reabsorbed in the tubule (depending on GFR, hydration, etc.)
What are some factors that will increase serum urea?
high protein in GI (diet or GI bleed)
decreased renal perfusion
decreased renal function
What are cause factors that will decrease serum urea?
decreased protein intake over-hydration pregnancy (bc higher GFR) severe liver disease (don't make it) anabolic effects from androgens or GH
What is a normal BUN/Cr ratio?
12-16:1
An elevated BUN/Cr ration with a normal creatinine means they have a prerenal or postrenal azotemia?
prerenal azotemia (because the tubule responds to the dehyration by reabsorbing more urea)
postrenal will have an elevated creatinine as well
What are some causes of a low BUN/Cr ration?
low protein intake
starvation
severe liver disease
acute tubular necrosis (can’t reabsorb the urea)
What percentage of nephrons must be destroyed before the BUN levels rise?
about 80%, so it’s not particularly sensitive for renal disease
What is creatinine a byproduct of?
muscle creatine
Describe renal handling of creatinine?
freely filtered at the glomerulus; as levels rise, active secretion increases so the more you have, the more you secrete
there’s generally no tubular reabosorption (unlike urea) except in severe CHF and diabetes
What are the limitations of serum creatinine?
it’s affected by dietary cooked meat, age, muscle mass
also secreted by the tubule but this is saturable
blocked by some drugs
proportional tubular secretion increases as renal function falls
extra-renal degradation of creatinine increases with renal failure, so levels will start to go down
What are some of the drugs that will block the secretion of creatinine in the tubule?
cimetidine, trimethoprim, dapsone, pyrimethamine
What’s the best index of renal function?
the GFR
What is the GFR actually?
the volume of fluid filtered from the glomerular capillaries into Bowman’s space per unit time (mL/min)
What are some analytes used to measure GFR?
inulin (polyfructose)
contrast dyes like iohexol and iothalamate
creatinine (endogenous)
What is the creatinine clearance equation?
CLcr = UcrV / Pcr
What are the two ways to get a diagnosis of CKD?
- kidney damage for >3months as defined by structural or fucntional abnormalitie sof the kidney, with or without decreased GFR manifested by either pathologic abnormalities or markers of kidney damage (blood or urine tests) or imaging abnormalities
- GFR less than 60 for over 3 months with or without kidney damage
What are the stafes of chronic kidney disease based on GFR?
>90 stage 1 60-90 stage 2 30-59 stage 3 15-29 stage 4 (start dialysis) <15 stabe 5 (kidney failure - get transplant)
What is cystatin C?
it’s a cystine protease inhibitor
What will levels of cystatin C do in kidney disease?
go up
Why is cystatin C a helpful alternative to creatinine for detecting CKD?
it’s less influenced by age, gender and race and it can detect subtle declines in renal function
unfortunately less available than creatinine
WHat is a normal amount of daily protein loss in urine?
< 150 mg/day with less than 30 mg/day of albumin