Nephrology Flashcards
How may renal disease present?
- LUTS
- Loin pain
- Abdominal pain
- Haematuria
- Nephrotic syndrome
- CKD signs
- Uraemic frost
- Cutaneous manifestations (in Renal Phakomatoses)
A 57 y/o F patient presenting with abdominal pain in a loin-to-groin distribution. Pain comes and goes, nothing makes it better, 8/10. Urinalysis shows blood.
Likely diagnosis?
Gold-standard investigation?
Other investigations?
Causes (5) of this condition.
Treatment?
Nephrolithiasis
CT-KUB
Other: Urinalysis; FBC; U+E; Pregnancy test
Hypercalcaemia; Hyperoxaluria; Hypervitaminosis D; Infection; Indinavir; Inadequate drainage; Diet (vitamin A deficiency); Dehydration; Drugs (loop diuretics); Endocrine (cysteinuria)
Depends on size of stone (10mm) for ureteric stones; (5mm) for renal stones
Ureteric stones <10mm
- ESWL
+
- Tamsulosin
Ureteric stones >10mm
- PCNL
If a renal stone was taken for biopsy, what is its most likely composition?
Calcium oxalate
What shape is a calcium oxalate stone?
Biconcave/ bipyramidal envelope
What shape is a uric acid stone?
Needle-shaped/ rhomboids
What shape is a struvite stone?
Coffin-lid/ staghorn
What shape is a calcium-phosphate stone?
Wedge-shaped prisms
What shape is a cystine stone?
Hexagon-shaped needle
Which stones are radiolucent?
Indinavir
Cysteine
Uric Acid
Which drugs may increase the risk of kidney stones?
Diuretics
Indinavir
Glucocorticoids
Define an AKI.
Sudden-onset reduction in renal function measured by SCr or Urine output occurring hours-days
Outline the criteria for a Stage 1 AKI.
SCr increase of 1.5-1.9x ; increase by 26umol/L
Urine output of <0.5mL/kg/hour for 6-12 hours
Outline Stage 2 AKI
SCr increase of 2-2.9x
Urine output reduction of <0.5mL/kg/hr for 12h
What is stage 3 AKI?
3x or >354umol/L or RRT
<0.3mL/kg/h (24h)
How may an AKI be categorised by cause(s)?
Pre-renal
Renal
Post-renal
How may an AKI be categorised by cause(s)?
Pre-renal
Renal
Post-renal
How may an AKI be categorised by cause(s)?
Pre-renal
Renal
Post-renal
How would you manage an AKI?
Treat the cause
Outline the general management of an AKI?
Consider the cause
Pre-renal AKI:
- Fluid resuscitation: 500mL STAT (max 2L)
Renal:
- Biopsy and referral
Post-renal:
- Decompression
Other sequelae:
Acidosis:
- Sodium bicarbonate
Hyperkalaemia: (10:10:10)
- Calcium gluconate (10%) 10mL over 10 minutes
- IV Insulin 10U in 25g glucose (50% in 50mL)
- Sabutamol 10mg
Fluid overload:
- Fluid restrict
- Diuretics
State 3 Nephrotoxic drugs.
NSAIDs Beta lactams ACEi/ARBs/ß-blockers Metformin Opiates
Describe CKD.
Abnormal structure or function ≥ 3/12 characterised by reduced eGFR
What measurable components are used in the criteria for CKD?
eGFR
Albumin excretion
An eGFR of 120mL/min/1.73 is stage…
G1
An eGFR of 88mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 2
An eGFR of 68mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 2
An eGFR of 78mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 2
An eGFR of 58mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 3a
An eGFR of 48mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 3
An eGFR of 38mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 3b
An eGFR of 42mL/min/1.73m is stage…
G3b
An eGFR of 18mL/min/1.73m is stage…
G4
An eGFR of 28mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 4
An eGFR of 8mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 5
An eGFR of 12mL/min/1.73m is stage…
Stage 5
What are the 3 categories for CKD regarding Albumin excretion?
What are the 3 categories and their limits for CKD regarding ACR?
A1 = <30; <3
A2 = 30-300; 3-30
A3 = >300; >30
(Albumin; ACR)
What investigations may you order in a patient with a declining eGFR over time?
- Urinalysis: protein/blood/ leukocytes
- ACR
- Electrophoresis
- MSC: white casts/red casts/granular casts
- FBC: derangements - ?Hb
- U+Es: ∆s? - reduced Ca2+; elevated PO43- ; reduced EGFR; increased ACR
- Hormones: increased PTH (renal osteodystrophy)
- Abs
- Bone profile
- USS: size; corticomedullary differentiation
- > Offer in visible haematuria or persistent microscopic haematuria
- Renal biopsy
How would you treat CKD?
- ACEi: Ramipril
or - ARB + Statin: Candesartan + Simvastatin
Consider:
- Diuretics
- Vitamin D
- Bisphosphonates
- Calcium acetate
- Quinine
- Ferrous fumarate
At what level of Pi do you consider medical management?
Pi > 1.5mmol/L
Calcium acetate
How would you treat cramps associated with CKD?
Quinine
When do you refer to nephrology in CKD?
- eGFR drop by 25% or drop by 15% over 12/12
- G4+G5 (≈ eGFR <30)
- Proteinuria = A3 (ACR >30) with haematuria
- Malignant hypertension (≥4 antihypertensive)
- Rare/genetic CKD cause
Compare and contrast the two types of RRT.
HD = blood via dialysis machine with dialysate on either side allowing diffusion
- 4-5 times a week
- AV fistula
- Anticoagulation required
- Risk of hypotension
PD = Tenckhoff catheter placed into peritoneal cavity in SC tunnel with dialysate connected to tunnel to push fluid into cavity
- 3-5 times a day
- Risk of infection
What opportunistic pathogen may enter via a Tenckhoff catheter?
S epidermidis
S aureus
State 3 complications of RRT
CVD: endothelial dysfunction; vascular stiffness
Renal bone disease
Infection (opportunistic; uraemia changes T cell and granulocyte function)
Amyloid accumulation
What are the donor options for a renal transplant?
- Living donor
- Donor after cardiac death (DCD)
- Donor after brain death (DBD)
What drugs may be used in a kidney transplant?
Monoclonal antibodies: Daclizumab; Alemtizumab
Calcineurin inhibitors: Tacrolimus; Ciclosporin
Antimetabolites: Mycophenolate; Azathioprine
Glucocorticoids
Which drugs are given as inducers at the time of renal transplantation?
Monoclonal antibodies:
Daclizumab (CD25 T cell blocker)
Alemtuzumab (T and B cell)
What drug is given as first line for acute renal transplant rejection?
Prednisolone
Describe Glomerulonephritis.
Diseases caused by pathology to the filtration unit of the kidney causing CKD which presents with proteinuria and/or haematuria, diagnosed by renal biopsy or urinalysis and can progress to kidney failure.
Outline the broad structure of a glomerulus.
- Afferent + Efferent arteriole
- Capillary plexus
- Fenestrated endothelium lines glomerular capillaries
- Basement membrane (GBM) supports endothelium
- Podocytes (foot processes) separated by filtration pores
What is the gold-standard investigation to diagnose a glomerulonephritis?
- Renal biopsy
Which two syndromes may Glomerulonephritis be divided into?
Give the main features of each.
Nephrotic syndrome: hypoalbuminaemia + proteinuria + peripheral oedema
Nephritic syndrome: haematuria + oedema + hypertension
What 3 features are present in a nephrotic syndrome?
Hypoalbuminaemia (<30g/L)
Proteinuria (>3g/day)
Oedema
Give 3 examples of primary renal nephrotic syndrome and 3 examples of secondary renal nephrotic syndrome.
Primary:
- Minimal Change Disease
- Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
- Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis
Secondary:
- Diabetes Mellitus
- SLE
- Myeloma
- Amyloid
- Pre-eclampsia
How would you manage a nephrotic syndrome?
- Tx cause \+ - Renoprotection: reduce damage \+ - Reduce oedema: Diuretics -> Aim for 0.5-1kg weight loss/day \+ - Tx complications: infection; VTE; hyperlipidaemia; electrolyte disturbances; metabolic changes
How much weight loss per day do you aim for when treating nephrotic syndrome with diuretics?
0.5-1kg/day
Which patient group is minimal change disease most commonly seen in?
Young males (90%)
Why is minimal change disease named this?
On microscopy, nothing is observed and electron microscopy shows fusion of podocytes.
An 4 y/o M presents with ankle oedema which has occurred recently. He is systemically well and there is nothing he sees his doctor for usually. FH is unremarkable.
Urinalysis shows protein ++, no blood and is frothy.
What investigations would you run?
Differential?
Treatment?
Urinalysis: Protein
MS+C: hyaline casts
eGFR: reduced
Renal biopsy: no change
DDx: Minimal Change Disease
Prednisolone 1mg/kg for 16 weeks
What other features may occur in patients with nephrotic syndrome?
Deranged lipids
Hypertension
Hypercoagulability
Which patient group is Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis most likely to occur in?
Black Patients
What is the definition of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis?
Disease which may be primary or secondary which results in reduction of kidney mass, featuring scarring at specific points in the glomeruli covering <50% of glomerulus resulting in nephrotic syndrome.
How do you treat Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis?
- Renoprotection: ARB/ACEi
± Primary (idiopathic) - Corticosteroids: 1mg/kg
The treatment of Wilson’s disease may cause which Glomerulonephritis?
Which drug treats this condition?
Membranous Nephropathy
Penicillamine
What is membranous nephropathy?
Commonest cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, usually idiopathic but may be secondary, resulting in IgG and C3 deposition along GBM resulting in resorption of deposits and structural change.
A patient is presenting with nephrotic syndrome. Upon biopsy, diffusely thickened GBM is identified, due to IgG deposits. Additionally, IgG is seen in the Ab screen.
Differential?
Treatment?
Membranous Nephropathy
- Renoprotection: ACEi/ARB and Anti-hypertensives
Refractory to Tx for 6/12 or increased SCr by 30%
+ Ponticelli regimen (Pred + Cyclophosphamide)
What is Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis?
Nephrotic syndrome caused by deposition of IgG or C3 with increased cell numbers in the membrane of the glomerulus
What is the difference between Membranous Nephropathy and Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis?
In membranoproliferative disease, the mesangium and the GBM is affected
A patient presents with frothy urine showing protein and blood. On renal biopsy, there is C3 present and proliferation of the basement membrane and mesangium.
Differential?
Membranoprolierative Glomerulonephritis
- Renoprotection: ACEi/ARB
Outline the key clinical features of nephritic syndrome.
Haematuria + Hypertension + Oedema
A 32 year old female presents with ankle oedema. She is usually well but has had a throat infection for the last 2 days. Urinalysis shows blood and protein.
A renal biopsy shows IgA deposited within the mesangium.
Differential?
Treatment?
IgA Nephropathy
- Renoprotection: ACEi/ARB
± Persistent proteinuria (>1g following 3/12) - Corticosteroids: Prednisolone at 1mg/kg
A 15 year old presents with ankle oedema and a purpuric rash on the buttocks. Additionally, he has had some tummy pain.
Urinalysis shows blood ++ and protein ++. He his hypertensive. Furthermore, a renal biopsy shows IgA and C3 positive.
What is your diagnosis?
What is your treatment?
HSP
- Renoprotection: ACEi/ARB
± Persistent proteinuria (>1g following 3/12) - Corticosteroids: Prednisolone at 1mg/kg