Nephrology Flashcards
List 3 functions of the kidney?
Primary role: maintain fluid and electrolyte homeostasis in response to blood pressure and hormones
- Metabolic waste excretion
- Endocrine functions
- Drug metabolism/excretion
- Control of solutes and fluid status
- BP control
- Acid/Base
How do you measure kidney function?
Measure what is going out in urine or what’s left in the blood
- Metabolic waste excretion: urea, creatinine
- Endocrine fxn: Vit D, EPO, PTH
- Control of solutes and fluid status: sodium, potassium, fluid
What is the role of the glomerulus?
- To filter blood
What is the glomerular filtration barrier (GFB)?
- Semi-permeable membrane preventing the passage of a majority of proteins in urine
- Controls the glomerular filtration rate
- Glomerular basement membrane and podocytes make up the GFB
- Blood cells and large molecules (albumin, immunoglobulins) are not filtered due to size and charge barrier
- Electrolytes, amino acids and small molecules pass through Bowman’s space
What controls blood flow through the glomerulus?
ie. describe what happens when a low blood volume is recognised
Reduced blood vol / low BP
- Baroreceptos stimulated causing juxtaglomerular cells to release renin causing angiotensin II production
- Angiotensin II: efferent arteriole vasoconstriction, inc. Na and water reabsorption and systemic vasoconstriction
- Sympathetic NS: systemic vasoconstriction
- Osmoreceptors of the hypothalamus cause ADH (from ant/ pituitary) to increase water retention and insert aquaporin channels in collecting duct
What is the pathway for filtration/reabsorption etc at the nephron?
- Blood is filtered at the glomerulus which goes to tubules
- 99% is reabsorbed
- Small amount is secreted into the tubules
- What’s left in tubules exits via urine
- Tubules adjust filtrate content, with collecting ductules absorbing water
In context of kidney function, which aspects of a dipstick are important?
- Presence of blood and protein
How do you measure urinary protein excretion?
- 24hr urine collection: not routine as not standardised between patients
- Protein:Creatinine Ratio (PCR) on a morning spot sample (mg/mmol). Urine PCR (uPCR) of 100 is equivalent to 1g/day of protein in urine
- Albumin:Creatinine ratio (mg/mmol), measuring just albumin rather than all the protein in the urine
What is proteinuria and what’s the pathology?
- Normal: less than 150mg/day (15% albumin, rest is other proteins)
- Protein: abnormal quantities of protein in urine, suggestive of kidney damage
- Damage to GFB: lose albumin into the urine
- When protein in the urine is pathological and due to glomerular dysfunction: 70% protein is albumin
- Urinalysis detects albumin
What is haematuria and how is it caused?
Haematuria: presence of blood in the urine
- Non-visible haematuria: can be detected on dipstick and is caused by disruption of the GFB
- Visible haematuria: can come from anywhere in the urinary tract. More likely to come from kidney stones/malignancy/UTI rather than the glomerulus
What makes a substance ideal to measure in urine?
What is the best substance to measure kidney function?
- Freely filtered at the glomerulus
- Not reabsorbed
- Not secreted
- Creatinine isn’t this straightforward but is the best marker
What are the 3 most important measurements for determining kidney function?
- Urea
- Creatinine
- eGFR
how is creatinine released into the blood and what affects it?
- From muscle breakdown
- Concentration affected by plasma volume
- Affected slightly by diet (high protein diet) or muscle building supplements
When is urea released into the blood and how are levels affected?
What is the pathway in the nephron?
- Tissue breakdown product
- Diet: high protein or GI bleed
- Dehydration causes more passive reabsorption at proximal tubule, so urea is usually higher
- In liver failure, breakdown products aren’t processed as well so urea is lower
- Freely filtered at glomerulus but 40% is reabsorbed so less reliable in indicating kidney function
Define renal clearance
Renal clearance = volume of plasma which would be cleared of the substance per unit time
- Expressed as ml/min
- Usually described as the glomerular filtration rate
What information is needed to measure eGFR?
What units is it expressed in?
In what situation can it not be used?
What else needs taken into account?
MDRD*4 formula:
- Plasma creatinine concentration
- Age (need to be >16)
- Gender
- Race
- Units: ml/min/1.73m2
Not suitable in AKI (ie. not valid when kidney function is changing rapidly)
- eGFR assumes stable renal function
- Creatinine levels are related to muscle mass, so what’s normal for one patient may not be normal for another
What are the stagings for chronic kidney disease with eGFR?
Stage 1: eGFR >90 with another abnormality*
Stage 2: eGFR 60-89 with another abnormality*
*patients with eGFR >60 should be regarded as normal unless other evidence of kidney disease eg. persistant haematuria or proteinuria
Only considered to have CKD if eGFR <60
Stage 3: eGFR 30-59 is CDK with moderate impairment
Stage 4: 15-29 is CDK with severe impairment
Stage 5: <15 is CKD with advanced impairment. Any patient on dialysis is considered stage 5.
Define glomerulonephritis
What is a complication of glomerulonephritis?
Inflammatory disease involving the glomerulus and disruption of the glomerular filtration barrier
- It can develop into end-stage renal failure (ESRF)
What cells are present in the glomerulus?
What are their roles?
What would damage of these cells lead to?
Parietal epithelial cell: lines Bowman’s capsule
- Damage is called a crescent lesion
Podocyte: sits on the outside of the glomerular membrane
- Has zipper-like foot processes
- Controls the charge and filtration barrier
- Damage: lose zipper effect and filtration barrier. Lots of protein will be present in urine
Mesangial cell: controls the matrix between the capillaries and produces mesangial matrix
- keeps the filter (GBM) free from debris
Endothelial cell: affected more often in systemic disease
What are the targets for injury in glomerulonephritis?
What are the pathological mechanisms involved in glomerulonephritis
Targets: cells
- Parietal epithelial cells, podocytes, mesangial cells, endothelial cells
Pathological mechanisms
- Pre-formed antibodies that travel to the glomerulus and cause damage ie. form immune complexes or activate complement
- Cell-mediated mechanisms (cells infiltrate the kidney) eg. cytokines
- Metabolic e.g. diabetes, genetic, vascular disease (HTN)
Many conditions are associated with glomerulonephritis. Give 3 examples
CV: SBE (subacute bacterial endocarditis)
Resp: lung cancer, TB
Infectious Disease: Hepatitis, HIV, chronic infection, Abx
Rheum: RA, lupud, amyloid, CT disease
Drugs: NSAIDs, bisphosphonates
Gastro: ALD, IBD, coeliac disease
Diabetes
Haem: myeloma, CLL, polycythaemia rubra vera (PRV)
Label the diagram
When do symptoms appear with kidney damage?
- When eGFR falls below 50%
- Creatinine only begins to rise when eGFR falls below 50%
How do you approach a patient with suspected glomerulonephritis?
- Detailed medical and drug history (if symptoms, how long have they been present?)
- Basics: U&Es, dipstick for blood and to quantify proteinuria, check albumin, USS (1/2 kidneys)
- Glomerulonephritis screen: ANCA, ANA/dsDNA, RF, anti-GBM, immunoglobulins, virology (Hep B, C, HIV)
What is required for a clinical diagnosis of glomerulonephritis?
- Kidney biopsy of the cortex (where the glomeruli are found)
- Bleeding risk so avoid is possible
What is the spectrum of presentation for glomerulonephritidies?
- Incidental finding with urinary abnormalities +/- impaired kidney function
- Visible haematuria (usually lower urinary tract problem but could be glomerulus)
- Synpharyngitic: sore throat and coke-looking urine. This is classic of IgA nephropathy
- Nephritic syndrome (pt. often ends up in hospital): high BP, declining kidney function and blood and protein in urine
- Nephrotic syndrome (odematous patient): unwell with rapidly progressing GN
- Acutely unwell with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis
How do you diagnose nephrotic syndrome?
What is the risk of nephrotic syndrome?
Triad:
- Massive proteinuria: 3.5g proteinuria per 24hr (ie. urine PCR >300)
- Hypoalbuminaemia: Low serum albumin <30 liver tries to accomodate loss of albumin but usually unable to keep up
- Oedema: ankles, puffy face, around the eyes. Due to salt and water retention and low serum albumin
- Usually see hyperlipidaemia
RIsk: loss of anticoagulants therefore risk of venous thromboembolism and inc. risk of infection
What are the classic causes of nephrotic syndrome?
- Minimal change disease
- Membranous glomerulonephritis
How do you diagnose nephritic syndrome?
- Hypertension
- Blood in urine (coke-coloured urine), sometimes protein
- Oliguria: production of abnormally small amounts of urine
- Usually caused by inflammation often involving the endothelium
Compare and contrast the mechanisms of nephritic and nephrotic syndrome
Nephrotic: oedema and injury to podocytes
Nephritic: inflammation
Nephrotic: altered architecture with scarring and matrix deposition
Nephritic: reactive cell proliferation, breaks in the GBM and Crescent formation
Nephrotic: always protein, sometimes blood
Nephritic: always blood, sometimes protein
What are the classic causes of nephritic syndrome?
- Crescentic GN
- Vasculitis
- Post-infectious
- IgA (usually presents with nephritis but can present as nephrotic)
What is IgA nephropathy?
What is the aetiology?
- IgA deposition in the mesangial cells
- The most common GN type in adults
Aetiology
- Secondary to infection: synpharyngitic IgA nephropathy until proven otherwise (sore throat and coke-coloured urine)
- Secondary to coeliac disease, cirrhosis, HSP (IgA vasculitis)
- IgA vasculitis: purpuric spots on extensor surfaces and protein in urine
-
What is the pathophysiology of IgA nephropathy?
What is the clinical presentation?
What is the treatment?
- Abnormal/Over-production of IgA immune complexes that deposit in the mesangium
- Mesangium responds bu proliferating, disrupting the GFB
Presentation
- Haematuria, usually HTN, proteinuria
- 1/3 progress to ESRF
Treatment
- Antihypertensive therapy ie. BP control (ideally <125/75)
- ACEi (Ramipril) or ARB
What is membranous glomerulonephritis?
What are the causes?
- Damage to podocytes and glomerular basement membrane due to deposits
Causes
- Idiopathic
- 10% due to underlying disease
- 70% have an antibody (anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody Anti-PLA2R) that binds to receptors on podocytes and causes dysfunction ie. immune complexes found in basement membrane
How does membranous glomerularnephritis present?
What is the natural history?
Presentation: nephrotic syndrome
- Oedema, inc. risk of infection and clots
- Fatigue
Natural history
- 1/3 spontaneous remission
- 1/3 progress to ENRF over 1-2yrs
- 1/3 persistent to proteinuria, maintain GFR
How is membranous glomerulonephritis treated?
- If secondary: treat underlying disease e.g. stop NSAIDs
ACEi/ARB, statin, diuretics
- BP control is essential, to <125/75
- Anything blocking RAAS will affect both BP and GMB to reduce proteinuria
Specific immunotherapy (if still deteriorating)
- Steroids along with alkylating agents for 6 months
- Rituximab
What age bracket is minimal change disease most common?
What is it’s pathogenesis?
What’s seen with a microscope?
- Commonest form of GN seen in children
- 90% of GN <10yrs is Minimal Change Disease I therefore don’t need to biopsy
Pathogenesis: disorder of the T cell that targets podocytes
- Damage to the GFB
Light microscope: normal glomerulus, no sign of inflammation or proliferation
Electron microscope: podocytes fused together and lose of finger-like processes (characteristic of MCD I)
What causes MCD and how does it present?
Cause: idiopathic
- Can be seen 2o to malignancy
Presentation: nephrotic syndrome
- MCD I: rapid presentation
- MCD II: acute presentation (overnight), 50% will relapse
How is minimal change disease treated?
Children: prednisolone (high dose corticosteroid) for 8 weeks
Adult: ACEi/ARB or diuretics
What is the mainstay for treatment of glomerulonephritis?
ACEi (ramipril)/ARB or statin or diuretics
- Ie. BP control <125.75mmHg
What primary causes of nephrotic syndrome are prevalent in different age categories?
Children: Minimal Change Disease (MCD)
- <45: Minimal change
45-65: Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis (FSGS)
>65: Membranous GN
What is the pathology of Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis (FSGS)?
What is the aetiology?
How does it present?
Pathology:
- Focal: only some glomeruli are affected
Segmental: only part of each glomerulus
Aetiology:
- Idiopathic or systemic disease
Presentation:
- Nephrotic syndrome
- 50% progress to ESRF
What are cresentic/rapidly progressing glomerulonephritidies?
What is the pathology?
How does the disease progress?
- A group a conditions demonstrating glomerular crescents on kidney biopsy
- Glomerular crescents = defined as 2+ layers of proliferating cells in Bowman’s space
- Presence of active proliferative disease
- Inside the glomerulus looks normal but the Bowman’s capsule has expanded out due to inflammatory cells, necrosis and ECM
Aggressive disease therefore will progress to ESRF
- Needs urgent treatment
- When crescents heal, the whole glomerulus scleroses and dies
Describe some common causes of Crescentic GN
ANCA Vasculitis
- Systemic disease, patient usually has other symptoms e.g. rash, joint paint, deaf, neuropathy
- ANCA positive
Goodpasture’s syndrome
- Autoimmune condition with anti-GBM antibodies
- Glomerulus and lungs are affected
- Symptoms: haematuria and haemoptysis
- Treatment: steroids
Lupus Nephritis
- ANA +ve, anti-dsDNA +ve, anti-histone +ve
HSP Nephritis
- ANA positive
What are the embryological stages of the kidney?
When is urine produced?
How much kidney function is developed by the 3rd trimester?
Pronephros: appears in the 4th week of development and regresses by end of week 4
Mesonephros: regresses by end of 2nd month
Metanephros: appears in week 5 and becomes functional around the 12th week. This is the definitive kidney
Urine production starts at week 10
Only 60% of kidney function (ie. 60% of glomeruli) by 3rd trimester
What is the most common cause of ESRF in children?
Congenital anomalies
- 50% of congenital problems lead to CKD needing renal replacement therapy (RRT)
Define renal agenesis
What stage of embryogenesis does this occur?
What is the prognosis?
- Congenital absence of renal parenchymal tissue, with less glomerli
- Occurs in the metanephric stage
Prognosis
- Bilateral: not compatible with life
- Unilateral: good prognosis
What is the most common congenital abnormality that progresses to ESRF?
- Renal hypodysplasia
What is renal hypodysplasia?
Renal hypodysplasia: congenitally small kidneys with dysplastic features
- Can be accompanied by a cystic component
- Renal hypoplasia: reduction in the number of nephrons but normal architecture
- Renal dysplasia: malformed renal tissue
How would a patient with renal hypodysplasia present?
How is renal hypodysplasia managed?
Presentation:
- Antenatal US: reduced kidney growth, reduction in amniotic fluid
- Neonate: lung issues (need ventilated), intrauterine growth restrictions, acidosis, raised creatinine
Children: failure to thrive (FTT), anorexia, vomiting, proteinuria
Management: supportive
What is MCDK?
How would multi-cystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) present?
What are the risks of MCDK?
- Large low-functioning kidney with multiple fluid-filled cysts, which may get smaller over time causing the kidney to shrink
- 50% involute (shrink): monitoring is required
Presentation
- Mainly antenatal detection on US
- Neonate: abdominal mass
- Usually unilateral (unaffected kidney does all the work), rarely bilateral (incompatible with life)
Risks
- Non-functioning kidney
- Malignancy
- HTN
What is the main risk factor for renal disease in infancy?
- Male
Define hydronephrosis
What is hydronephrosis associated with?
What modality is it usually discovered on?
Definition: distension of the kidney with urine, caused by obstruction to urinary outflow
- Associated with renal injury and impairment
- Usually unilateral (60-80%)
- Commonly seen on ultrasound (enlarged renal pelvis w/ diameter >10mm)
What are the causes of hydronephrosis?
- Vesico-ureteric reflux
- Obstruction in urinary tract
Define obstruction (in relation to hydronephrosis)
What are the levels of obstruction in the urinary tract?
Def: impedence to urinary flow which causes progressive damage
Levels of obstruction:
- Pelvic-Ureteric Junction (PUJ)
- Ureter
- Vesico-ureteric junction (VUJ)
- Bladder
- Urethra
How is PUJ obstruction diagnosed?
What is the effect of PUJ obstruction?
Effect: partial or total urine blockage at ureter junction
- usually unilateral
Diagnosis:
- Antenatal diagnosis (US)
- Neonate: abdominal mass (enlarged renal pelvis), UTI, FTT
- Children: abdominal/flank pain
What is vesico-ureteric junction obstruction?
What causes it?
What are the effects?
- Functional/Anatomical abnormality at vesico-ureteric junction, causing obstruction of urinary flow
Causes:
- Primary: reflex or obstruciton
- Secondary: bladder issues
Effect: develop a megaureter
- Ureteric dilatation >7mm (>1cm is significant)
What are posterior urethral valves?
How would they present?
What is the diagnosis, management and outcome?
- They are obstructive membranes that develop in the urethra, close to the bladder
- Only seen in boys
Presentation: UTI (bilateral hydronephrosis)
Diagnosis: US
Management: cystoscopy
Outcomes: 1/3 normal renal function, 1/3 with bladder problems and incontinence, 1/3 with ESRF
Define vesico-ureteric reflux
What are the consequences?
How is it diagnosed?
How is it graded?
Def: retrograde passage of urine from the bladder into the upper urinary tract
Consequences: can lead to scarring, HTN, ESRF
Diagnosis: MCUG (Micturating Cystourethrogram)
Graded I-V
- Grade I&II: reflux into ureters
- Grade I-III: usually resolve spontaneously
- Grade IV&V: need intervention
Define pyelonephritis
Bacterial infection of the kidneys causing inflammation
- Aka UTI (urinary tract infection)
How does pyelonephritis present?
- More common in girls (unless <3 months)
Upper tract pyelonephritis:
- Pyrexia, vomiting, systemic upset, abdominal pain
- More likely to cause kidney damage
Lower tract pyelonephritis:
- Dysuria, frequency, haematuria, wetting
- Similar to adult clinical presentation
What is the commonest caustive organism of pyelonephritis?
E. Coli
How do you diagnose pyelonephritis?
What are the complications of pyelonephritis?
Urine sample
- Need proper urine collection
- Significant bacteriuria: >105 colony forming units (CFU)/ml
Investigations
- US, MCUG (<1yr), nuclear medicine (if questioning obstruction)
Complications
- Scarring, HTN, ESRF
What is the epidemiology of diabetic nephropathy
30-40% diabetes develop kidney problems (usually T2DM)
- 26% of people starting RRT (ie. dialysis or transplant) are diabetic
Describe the pathophysiology of diabetic nephropathy
Structural changes of the glomerulus:
- inc. number of mesangial cells
- thickening of the glomerular basement membrane
- mesangial matrix expansion
- fusion of foot processes
Progression:
hyperglycaemia → volume expansion → intra-glomerular hypertension → hyperfiltration → proteinuria → hypertension and renal failure
- Often takes 5-10 years for microalbuminuria to occur
What is the clinical presentation for diabetic nephropathy
Early on: may be asymptomatic
Later:
- worsening BP control
- proteinuria
- peripheral oedema (ankles, feet, hands)
- inc. frequency
- confusion / difficulty concentrating
- SOB, nausea, loss of appetite, persistent itch, fatigue
Describe the histology of diabetic nephropathy
Pathognominic hyaline material containing nodules (excess mesangial matrix) in glomerular capillary loops
What are 3 complications of diabetic nephropathy
anaemia
bone and mineral metabolism
retinopathy
neuropathy
What is the management for reducing diabetic nephropathy and it’s progression to needing dialysis
- tight glycaemic control
- BP control
- SGLT-2 inhibitors
What is the pathophysiology of renovascular disease?
- progressive narrowing of the renal arteries with atheroma (degradation of the walls due to fatty deposits)
- perfusion through kidney falls by 20%: GFR falls but tissue oxygenation of cortex and medulla are maintained
- a hypoxic medulla can be compensated for
- RA stenosis progresses to 70%: if it becomes so hypoxic, the compensation is overwhelmed and the medulla becomes ischaemic and dysfunction develops
- cortical hypoxia causes microvascular damage and activation of inflammatory and oxidative pathways
- Parenchymal inflammation and fibrosis progress and become irreversible. Restoration of blood flow provides no benefit
At what stage do symptoms develop with renal artery stenosis and list 3
Symptoms usually develop after advanced stage
- hypertension with sudden onset or worsens without explanation
- hypertension that begins <30yrs or >50yrs
As RA stenosis develops..
- HTN that’s difficult to maintain
- Bruit over the kidneys
- Proteinuria
- worsening kidney function with HTN treatment
- fluid overload and oedema
- treatment resistant HF
What is the aim of treatment for RA stenosis
Give 2 medical and lifestyle and one surgical management option(s) for renal artery stenosis
- when would the surgical option be considered?
Aim: Treat underlying systemic disease and always control BP as it will always affect kidney function
Medical:
- BP control (not ACEi/ARB, think verapamil or amlodipine or bisoprolol)
- Statin: lower cholesterol
- If diabetic, tight glycaemic control
- Stop ACEi, and avoid it and ARBs in future
Lifestyle
- smoking cessation, exercise, low Na diet
Surgical: angioplasty
- rapidly deteriorating renal failure
- uncontrolled inc. BP on multiple agents
- flash pulmonary oedema
A 42yr old male attends medical receiving unit
PC: leg swelling
HPC: normal ECG, albumin low, BP 105/65mmHg
Urinalysis: uPCR 742
PMH: 20yr hostory of ulcerative colitis
Comment on any significant results
What are the differentials and what investigations are needed to confirm/exclude these differentials
Low albumin
- either losing albumin in urine or failure to make albumin (liver disease - no evidence in this case)
uPCR 742 = excreting about 7.5g/day ie. proteinuria - nephrotic syndrome
Nephrotic syndrome on background of colitis
Differentials: diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephritis, virual infections (HBV, HCV, HIV), amyloidosis, myeloma
Investiagtions:
- Bloods: glucose (diabetes), ANA (lupus nephritis), viral infection screen, protein electrophroesis (myeloma - looking for light chains), kidney biopsy (amyloidosis)
Define amyloidosis
What are the primary organs that are affected?
A group of diseases that result from the abnormal deposition of a highly stable insoluble proteineous material, amyloid, in the extracellular space
- Amyloid is made of beta-pleated sheets
- mainly found in the kidneys, heart, liver, gut
How is amyloidosis diagnosed?
For the kidney: biopsy
- Light microscope with Congo red stain: apple green birefringence
- Electron microscope: Amyloid fibrils causing mesangial expansion
What are the two classes of amyloidosis and what conditions are they associated with
AA: systemic amyloidosis
- inflammation/infection
- more widely seen in TB and IBD
AL: immunoglobulin fragments
- haematological conditions eg. myeloma
How are the two classes of amyloidosis treated?
AA amyloid: treat underlying cause of infection or inflammation
AL amyloid: treat the underlying haematological condition
What is protein in the urine associated with
GLOMERULI disease
- if no protein: damage to another part of the kidney other than the glomerulus
36yr old attends the rheumatology ward
Investigations: SCrumol/l 200 (70 in Jan)
- Urinalysis P4+ and B3+, uPCR 400 and albumin 29
- Presents with butterfly rash, hair loss, Ryanoids’, some arthritis associated
Comment on noteworthy values
What are the differentials and what investigations are needed to confirm/exclude these differentials
SCr elevated: kidney dysfunction and rapidly progressing
Urinalysis: haematuria and proteinuria
Nephritic syndrome: rapidly progressing, haematuria and proteinuria
Differentials:
- Crescentric nephritis: ANCA vasculitis, Goodpasture’s, HSP nephritis, Lupus nephritis
- IgA nephropathy
Investigations: antibodies: ANCA (ANCA vasculitis), anti-GBM (Goodpasture’s), ANA (HSP/lupus), anti-dsDNA and anti-histone (lupus nephritis)
- check C4 (low in SLE)
Define systemic lupus erythematous
What is the pathology of this ocndition?
A chronic inflammatory condition caused by an autoimmune disease
- It’s a immune complex mediated glomerular disease
Pathology:
- multiple autoantibodies directed against DNA (anti-dsDNA), histones (anti-histone), snRNPs, translational machinery, nucleus (ANA)
Describe the pathophysiology of systemic lupus erythematous (SLE)
- auto-antibodies produced against dsDNA or nucleosomes (anti-histone)
- form intravascular immune complexes or attach to GBM
- activate complement, resulting in a low C4
- renal damage
How is systemic lupus erythematous diagnosed and treated?
Diagnosis: kidney iopsy
Treatment: immunosuppression ie. steroids
What genes are involved in the development of adult polycystic kidney disease?
PKD 1 gene mutation (chromosome 16) - 85%
- Typical rapid progression with ESRD <50yrs
PKD 2 gene mutation (chromosome 4) - 15%
- Slower progression, may never reach ESRD
Define autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
- the most common form of polycystic kidney disease characterised by the progressive development of innumerable kidney cysts, causing HTN, renal pain and renal insufficiency
- usually mutations of PKD 1 gene on chromosome 16, less often PKD 2 gene on chromosome 4
Define autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD)
- early onset disorder characterised by the presence of innumerable kidney cysts and enlarged kidneys that can usually be detected via ultrasound before birth or in the neonatal period
- mutated gene found on chromosome 6
What are the roles of the PKD 1 and 2 genes?
They code for polycystin 1 and 2
- membranr proteins found all over (kidneys, brain, bone, heart)
- located in the renal tubular epithelial
- involved in intracellular calcium regulation
Overexpressed in cyst cells
Describe the progression of ADPKD
Cysts gradually enlarge causing pressure, and the normal kidney tissue starts getting replaced
- Kidney volume increased and eGFR falls
- cyst infection, rupture, haematuria and pain
- extra-renal manifestations explained as polycystin proteins are found systemically
Hepatic cysts: originate from bile ducts, so can enlarge and cause enlargement of the liver but will not cause liver failure
Describe the presentation of ADPKD at different ages
Antenatal: antenatal US
Childhood: haematuria, flank pain, HTN, UTIs, renal US findings
Adult (usual presentation):
- HTN, impaired renal function, loin pain, haematuria, UTIs, renal US findings
Family associated
Describe the presentation of ARPKD at different ages
Antenatal: US or oligohydramnios (deficiency of amniotic fluid)
Infancy:
- large palpable renal mass, resp. distress, renal failure, HTN, hyponatraemia
Childhood:
- Renal failure, HTN
Describe the histpathology and associated anomalies of ARPKD
Histopathology:
- Cystic dilatations of collecting tubules with flattening of the epithelium that runs perpendicular to the renal capsule
Associated anomalies:
- congenital hepatic fibrosis → portal HTN → ascending cholangitis
Compare the prognosis of ADPKD and ARPKD
ADPKD:
- progression of ESRF in adulthood, 50% by 60yrs
ARPKD:
- 20-30% mortality in neonate period
- 5yr survival: 70-88%
- Progression to ESRF >50% (often >15yrs)
List 3 extra-renal manifestations associated with polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
Heart: mitral valve prolapse, AV malformation
Brain: cerebral aneurysm
GI: hepatic/pancreatic cysts, colonic diverticula, colonic hernia
How is polycystic kidney disease managed?
- Supportive
- Early detection and BP management
- Treat complications
- Manage extra-renal associations
- Prepare for renal replacement therapy (RRT): dialysis or kidney transplant
For ADPKD: Tolvaptan (only in CKD that’s stage II/II at start of treatment and evidence of rapidly progressing kidney disease)
Define acute kidney injury
A sudden decline in renal function over hours or days, recognised by the rise in serum urea and creatinine
What are the diagnostic classifications of AKI and list three causes of each
Pre-renal failure: Due to circulatory failure ie. shock
- occurs secondary to renal hypoperfusion
1. hypovolaemia and hypotension eg. diarrhoea, dehydration, haemorrhage, burns
2. Reduced effective circulatory volume eg. septic shock, cardiac failure, cirrhosis
3. drugs eg. NSAIDs and ACEi together
4. renal artery stenosis
Renal failure: due to an injury/failure of the cells of the kidney
- glomerular: glomerulonephritis and other glomerular pathology
- Tubulointersitial: ischaemic and nephrotoxic acute tubular necrosis (ATN) caused by pre-renal failure, drugs, myeloma, sarcoid
- Vascular: renal artery stenosis causing structural abnormalities
post-renal failure: due to obstruction
- renal papillary necrosis, kidney stones
- retroperitoneal fibrosis
- carcinoma of the cervix, prostatic hypertrophy/maligancy
- urethral strictures
How does septic shock affect the kidneys?
Causes systemic vasodilation which reduces renal perfusion pressure and leads to hypoperfusion
How does the combination of NSAIDs and ACEi induce vascular changes that could lead to renal failure?
NSAIDs: vasoconstrict the afferent glomerular arteriole
ACEi: vasodilate the efferent glomerular arteriole
How does hypoperfusion of the kidneys lead to renal failure?
hypoperfusion results in ischaemia of the renal parenchyma
- if this lasts, intrinsic damage may occur and acute tubular necrosis will develop
Explain the development of intrinsic renal failure
3 categories: glomerular, tubulointerstitial and vascular
Pre-renal failure can cause intrinsic renal failure due to lack of blood supply to the kidney parenchyma
Tubulointerstitial causes:
- due to damage of the parenchyma which leads to scarring and fibrosis
- most common is acute tubular necrosis (ATN)
- always occurs due to prolonged renal hypoperfusion (pre-renal) and / or direct toxicity
List 3 symptoms of acute kidney injury
Non-specific
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhoea
- dehydration
- oligouria
- confusion, drowsiness
- irregular heart beat (due to hyperkalaemia)
What can acute kidney injury result in?
Decline in renal function can result in dysregulation of
- fluid balance
- acid-base homeostasis
- electrolytes
List the classification systems used for AKI and their stages
What measurements are used for their classification
RIFLE: Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, ESRD
- sCr / GFR and urine output
AKIN: Stages 1-3
- sCr and urine output
KDIGO: Stages 1-3
- sCr and urine output
What are the stages involved in the RIFLE classification of AKI
Risk:
- inc. sCr x1.5 or GFR dec. by >25%
- UO <0.5ml/kg/hr for 6hrs
Injury:
- inc. sCr x2.0 or GFR dec. by >50%
- UO <0.5ml/kg/hr for 12hrs
Failure:
- inc. sCr x3.0 or GFR dec. by >75% or Cr >4mg/dl with acute rise >0.5mg/dl
- UO <0.3ml/kg/hr for 24hrs or anuria for 12hours
Loss:
- persistant acute renal failure = complete loss of renal function for >4 weeks
ESRD: End stage renal disease
What are the stages involved in AKIN?
Stage 1:
- sCr inc. x1.5 or >0.3mg/dl
- UO <0.5mg/kg/hr x6hrs
Stage 2:
- sCr inc. x2.0
- UO <0.5mg/kg/hr x12hrs
Stage 3:
- sCr inc. x3.0 or >4mg/dl with acute rise of >0.5mg/dl
- UO <0.3ml/kg/hr x24hrs or anuria x12hrs