Nephrology Flashcards
Define oliguria
Reduced urine output, usually less than 0.5 ml/kg/h
What does specific gravity on urinalysis measure?
Osmolality of urine
Increased osmolality in diabetes, dehydration, adrenal insufficiency
Decreased osmolality in diabetes insipidus, renal failure
What are casts (found on urinary microscopy)?
Cylindrical bodies formed in lumen of distal tubules, usually due to breakdown/inflammatory processes
List indications for renal biopsy
Unexplained renal failure Acute nephritic syndrome Unexplained proteinuria/haematuria Planning therapy Autoimmunity (SLE, Goodpasture's, GPA)
List contraindications to renal biopsy
Abnormal clotting Hypertension over 160/90 Single kidney Chronic renal failure with small kidney Abnormal anatomy
UTI is highly suspected if there is bacteriuria with greater than how many organisms per mL of fresh mid-stream urine?
Greater than 10^5 organisms
List the main conditions for upper and lower UTI
Upper: pyelonephritis
Lower: urethritis, cystitis, prostatitis
List aetiology/risk factors for UTI
Females (short, wide urethra) Sexual intercourse Spermicide use Pregnancy Menopause Immunosuppression Catheterisation UT obstruction (stones)
List the main organisms that cause UTI’s
E. coli Klebsiella Enterococci Proteus Pseudomonas (esp catheters) Staph saphrophyticus in women of child-bearing age
List clinical features of upper UTI
Loin pain Tender Fever Rigors Vomiting Oliguria
List clinical features of lower UTI
Frequency Dysuria Haematuria Suprapubic pain Backache Urgency Strangury
What investigations would you do for suspected UTI?
Mid-stream urine sample Urinalysis Microscopy/culture Bloods: FBC, U+E, CRP US scan, IV urogram, cystoscopy
Outline management of UTI
Drink lots of fluids and pee often Cranberry juice Empirical therapy: trimethoprim/nitrofurantoin Hospital therapy: gentamicin GP therapy: co-amoxiclav/co-trimoxazole Levofloxacin in men may be needed
What is glomerulonephritis?
Immune-mediated damage to glomerulus and podocytes, causing leakage of blood +/- protein in urine
Focal if less than 50% affected, diffuse if more than 50%
What is the commonest type of glomerulonephritis worldwide?
IgA nephropathy
List clinical features of IgA nephropathy
Episodic macroscopic haematuria
Post-URTI
Proteinuria
What investigations would you do for IgA nephropathy?
Renal biopsy
Immunofluorescence shows IgA and C3 deposits
Outline management of IgA nephropathy?
Prednisolone
Cyclophosphamide if progressively worsening renal function
What is Goodpasture’s disease?
Anti-glomerular-basement-membrane antibodies destroy type IV collagen of the glomerulus
List clinical features of Goodpasture’s syndrome
Macroscopic haematuria
Oliguria
Haemoptysis
Renal failure
What investigations would you do for Goodpasture’s syndrome?
Antibody screen
Urine output
IgG detection
Presence of crescents on renal biopsy
Outline management of Goodpasture’s syndrome
Plasmapharesis
Steroids
Cytotoxics
List aetiology/risk factors for rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
Immune complex -mediated Post-infection Henoch-Schonlein purpura IgA nephropathy Vasculitis (GPA, EGPA) Goodpasture's syndrome Drugs
List clinical features of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
Systemic upset
Fever
Haemoptysis
Pulmonary haemorrhage
What investigations would you do for rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis?
Renal biopsy shows crescents Antibody screen (ANCA)
Outline management of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
High dose (IV) methylprednisolone + cyclophosphamide Plasmapharesis
What is nephrotic syndrome?
Protein leakage into urine due to non-proliferative damage to the glomerular basement membrane
List the core triad of features of nephrotic syndrome
More than 3g of protein in urine in 24h
Hypoalbuminaemia
Oedema
What are the principles of management of nephrotic syndrome?
Restrict sodium (reduce oedema)
Diuretic
ACE inhibitor
What is the commonest cause of nephrotic syndrome in children?
Minimal change nephropathy
What type of cancer is minimal change nephropathy particularly associated with?
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
What investigations would you do for minimal change nephropathy?
Selective proteinuria - check albumin
Normal light microscopy
Electron microscopy shows fused podocytes
Outline management of minimal change nephropathy
Steroids
Cyclophosphamide/ciclosporin if relapses
What is the commonest cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults?
Focal segemental glomerulosclerosis
List aetiology/risk factors for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Primary (idiopathic) Secondary to Alport's syndrome IgA nephropathy Vasculitis Obesity Reflux disease Heroin use
What investigations would you do for focal segmental glomerulosclerosis?
Segmental glomerulosclerosis on light microscopy
IgM and C3 levels
Outline management of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis
Steroids
Cyclophosphamide/ciclosporin if resistant
List aetiology/risk factors for membranous nephropathy
Malignancy
Drugs - gold, penicillamine, captopril
Autoimmunity
Infection (hepatitis B)
What investigations would you do for membranous nephropathy?
Diffuse thickened glomerular basement membrane on microscopy
IgG, C3 deposits
Anti-PLA2r antibody
Outline management of membranious nephropathy
Steroid
Cyclophosphamide if worsening renal function
What is nephritic syndrome?
Proliferative damage to glomerular endothelium, causing blood to leak through into urine
List aetiology/risk factors for nephritic syndrome
Post-Strep glomerulonephritis
IgA nephropathy
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
List clinical features of nephritic syndrome
Haematuria Proteinuria Oliguria Oedema Mild hypertension