Nephrology - MTB Flashcards
Best initial test in nephrology
- Urinalysis
- BUN/ Cr
Urinalysis measurements
- Protein
- WBC
- Red cells
- Specific gravity and pH
- Nitrites
Severe proteinuria
- means glomerular damage
Tamm-Horsfall protein
- tubules secrete slight amounts of protein
- less than 30 - 50 mg per 24 hrs
If there is persistent proteinuria
- not related to prolonged standing (orthostatic proteinuria), a kidney biopsy should be performed
Activities that increase urinary protein excretion
- Standing
- Physical activity
Normal protein per 24 hrs
< 300 mg
Assess proteinuria
- UA is the intial test
- Protein to creatinine ration is more accurate at determining the amount
Protein to creatinine ratio
1 is equivalent to one gram of protein on a 24 hr
Protein: creatinine ratio vs 24 hr urine
Protein: creatinine ratio can be superior in accuracy
Microalbunemia
- tiny amount of protein that is too small to detect on UA
- long term microalbinuria leads to worsening renal function in a diabetic patient should be treatment
Microalbunemia
- 30 - 300 mg/24 hrs
Diabetic patient is evaluated with a UA that shows no protein. Microalbuminuria is detected (level btwn 30 and 300 mg per 24 hrs). Next best step?
ACE inhibitors or angiotension receptor blocker
- best initial therapy for any degree of proteinuria in a diabetic patient
Is Bence-Jones protein in myeloma detectable on dipstick?
No. Use Immunoelectrophoresis
White blood cells on UA
- detect inflamation, infection, and allergic interstitial nephritis
Eosinophils
- indicate allergic or acute intersitial nephritiris
Detecting eosinophils in the urine
Wright and Hansel stains
- allergic intersitial nephritis
-
Hematuria
= / > 5 RBCs per high power field
- stones in bladder, ureter, or kidney
- hematologic disorders that cause bleeding (coagulopathy)
- infection (cystitis, pyelonephritis)
- cancer of bladder, ureters, or kidney
- tx ( cyclophosphamide gives hemorrhagic cysts)
- trauma
- glomerulonephritis
Ig A nephropathy
common for mild recurrent hematuria
Reason for false positive tests for hematuria
- Hemoglobin OR
- myoglobin
Woman is admitted to the hospital with trauma and dark urine. The dipstick is markedly positive for blood. Best initial test to conform the etiology?
Microscopic exam of the urine
Why is intravenous pyelogram is always wrong on boards?
- Slower and the contrast is renal toxic
When is dysmorphic red cells?
Glomerulonephritis
If the patient has hematuria without infection or prior trauma but
- Renal U/S or CT doesn’t show etiology
- Bladder shows mass for possible biopsy
Next step?
Cystoscopy
Most accurate test of the bladder
Cystoscopy
Red cell casts in UA
Glomerulonephritis
White cell casts in UA
Pyelonephritis
Eosinophils casts in UA
Acute (allergic) interstitial nephritis
Hyaline casts in UA
Dehydration concentrates the urine and the normal Tamm-Horsfall protein precipitaes or concentrates into a cast
Waxy casts in UA
Chronic renal disease
Granular “muddy-brown” casts on UA
Acute tubular necrosis
- they are collections of dead tubular cells
Acute Kidney Injury
- formerly called acute renal failure
- decrease in creatinine clearance resulting in a sudden rise in BUN and creatinine
Three different types of AKI
- Prerenal azotemia (decreased perfusion)
- Postrenal azotemia (obstruction)
- Intrinsic renal disease (ischemia and toxins)
Prerenal azotemia
- due to inadequate perfusion of the kidney when kidney is normal
- hypotension
- hypovolemia
- renal artery stenosis
NSAIDS on afferent arteriole
- constrict the afferent arteriole
ACE inhibitors on efferent arteriole
- cause efferent arteriole vasodilation
Postrenal azotemia
- obstruction of any cause damages the kidney by blocking filtration at the glomerulus
Causes of postrenal azotemia
- PROSTATE HYPERTROPHY or cancer
- STONE in the ureter
- Cervical CANCER
- Urethral CANCER
- Neurogenic (atonic) bladder
- Retroperitoneal FIBROSIS
Causes of retroperitoneal fibrosis
- Bleomycin
- Methylsergide
- Radiation
Most common cause of intrinsic renal disease
Acute tubular necrosis
- from toxins and prolonged ischemia of the kidney
Other causes of intrinsic renal disease
- Acute (allergic) interstitial nephritis
- Rhabdomyolysis and hemoglobinuria
- Contrast agents, aminoglycosides, cisplatin,
- Crystals such as hyperuricemia, hypercalcemia
- Bence-Jones protein from myeloma
- Poststreptococcal infection
Clinical presentation of intrinsic renal disease
- Nausea and vomiting
- Tired/malaise
- Weak
- Short of breath and edema from fluid overload
Clinical presentation of severe intrinsic renal disease
- Arrhythmia from hyperkalemia and acidosis
- Sharp, pleuritic chest pain from PERICARDITIS
Clinical presentation of postrenal azotemia
- Enlargement (distention) of the bladder
- Massive diuresis after urinary catheter
Best initial test for acute kidney injury
- BUN : Cr
Prerenal azotemia
- BUN:CR > 20:1
- Clear hx of hypoperfusion and hypotension
Postrenal azotemia
- BUN:Cr > 20:1
- Distended bladder or massive release of urine with catheter placement AND bilateral or unilateral HYDRONEPHROSIS on U/S
Intrinsic renal disease
- BUN: Cr < 10:1
When is kidney biopsy the answer for AKI?
Never
Tests for AKI of unclear etiology
- Urinanalysis
- Urine sodium
- Fractional excretion of sodium
- Urine osmolality
Best test for AKI of unclear etiology
Urinalysis
Increased urine osmolality
- when intravascular volume is low, normally ADH levels should rise
- healthy kidney will reabsorb more water to fill vascularture
- increased water reabsorption leads to an increase in urine osmlolality – more concentrated urine
Isosothenuria (same osmolality to the blood ~ 300 mOsm/L) or Low urine osmolality
- During ATN, the urine cannot be concentrated because the tubules cells are damaged
Urine osmolality: Healthy person with fluid overload
Low urine osmolality or dilute urine
Urine osmolality: Health person with dehydration
High urine osmolality or concentrated urine
20 y/o African American man comes for a screening test for sickle cell. He is found to be heterozygous (trait or AS) for sickle. Best advice for him?
Avoid dehydration
- sickle cell trait in renal concentrating ability or isosthenuria
Prerenal azotemia
- BUN:Cr > 20:1
- Urine Na < 20mEq/L
- Fractional excretion of sodium: < 1%
- Urine osmolality: > 500 mOsm/kg
Acute tubular necrosis
- BUN: Cr < 20: 1
- Urine Na > 20mEq/L
- Fractional excretion of sodium: >1%
- Urine osmolality: < 300mOsm/kg
Acute Tubular Necrosis
- an injury to the kidneys from ischemia and/or toxins resulting sloughing off of tubular cells into the urine
- Sodium and water reabsorptive mechanisms are lost with the tubular cells
- Proteinuria is not significant since protein, not tubule, spills into the urine
Urine specific gravity correlates to urine osmolality
- High UOsm = high specific gravity
Pt has acute renal failure and a toxin. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Acute Tubular Necrosis
Pt comes with fever and acute, left lower quadrant abdominal pain. Blood cx on admission grow E.coli and Candida albicans She is started on vancomycin, metronidazole, and gentamicin, and amphotericin. She has a CT scan that identifies diverticulitis. After 36 hrs, her creatinine rises dramatically. Most likely cause of her renal insufficiency?
Contrast media
- rapid onset of injury
Timeline for nephrotoxic drugs
Drugs (e.g. vancomycin, gentamicin, and amphotericin)
are nephrotoxic
- usually takes 5 to 10 days to result in nephrotoxicity
74 y/o blind man is admited with obstructive uropathy and chest pain. He has a hx of hypertension and diabetes. His creatinine drops from 10mg/dL to 1.2 mg/dL 3 days ater catheter placement. The stress test show reversible ischemia. Most appropriate management?
Saline hydration is has the most proven benefit at prevent contrast-induced nephrotoxicity
Pt with mild renal insufficiency undergoes angiograpy and develops 2mg/dL rise in creatinine from ATN despite the use of saline hydration before and after the procedure. What do you expect to find on lab testing?
Urine sodium 5 (very low), FENA
Pt with extremely severe myeloma with a plasmacytoma is admitted for combination chemotherapy. Two days later, the creatinine rises. Most likely cause?
Hyperuricemia
- most likely from tumor lysis syndrome
- cisplatin (drug toxicities) would not produce RISE in CREATININE In 5-10 days
Prevention of tumor lysis syndrome
- Allopurinol, hydration, and rasburicase should be given prior to chemotherapy to prevent renal failure from tumor lysis sndrome
Pt who is suicidal ingests an unknown substance and develops renal failure 3 days later. Her calcium level is also low and the urinalysis shows an abnormality. What did she take?
Ethylene glycol
- AKI based on oxalic avid and oxalate precipitating within the kidney tubules cause ATN
- envelope shaped crystals
Drug-induced ATN
- nonoliguric renal injury caused by aminoglycosides, amphotericin, cisplatin, vancomycin, acyclovir, and cyclosporine
- slower onset: FIVE to TEN days
- dose dependent
What electrolyte deficiency predisposes someone to drug-induced aminoglycosides?
Low magnesium levels
- may increase risk of aminoglycosides or cisplatin toxicity
Contrast media nephrotoxicity
- can cause immediate renal toxicity
- prevented with saline hydration
- n-acetylcysteine and sodiu bincarbonate proven beneficial
Rhabdomyolysis
- caused by TRAUMA, prolonged IMMOBILITY, snake bites, seizures, and CRUSH INJURIES
- best initial test to confirm UA
Hyperuricemia
- ATN
- usually from tumor lysis syndrome
- long standing hyperuricemia from gout can cause chronic renal failure
Best initial to confirm the diagnosis of rhabdomyolysis
UA
- positive only on dipstick for large amounts of blood, but no cells will be seen on microscopic examination
Reasons for false positive urine dipstick
Urine dipstick can’t tell the difference between:
- Hemoglobin
- Myoglobin
- Red blood cells
Bence Jones protein
- directly toxic to renal tubules
Rhabdomyolysis: lab findings
- ELEVATED CPK - lets you know “hematuria” is myoglobin
- HYPERKALEMIA due to release of K from damaged cells
- HYPERURICEMIA due to degradation of nucleic acid from damaged cells
- HYPOCALCEMIA due to increased calcium binding to damaged muscle
Rhabdomyolysis: treatment
- SALINE HYDRATION
- MANNITOL as an osmotic diuretic
- BICARBONATE which drives K back into cells and prevent precipitation of myoglobin
Do you treat hypocalcemia in rhabdomyolysis?
No, if patient is asymptomatic.
- in recovery, the calcium will come back out of muscles
A man comes to ED after a triathlon, followed by status epilepticus. He takes simvastatin at triple the recommended dose. His muscles are tender and the urine is dark. IV fluids are started . What is the next step?
EKG
- to detect life threatening hyperkalemia
- potassium replacement in a person with rhabdomyolysis would be fatal**
Rhabdomyolysis proven to benefit ATN
- No therapy proven to benefit ATN
- diuretics increase urine output, but do not change overall outcome
Wrong answers for treatment of ATN
- Low-dose dopamine
- Diuretics
- Mannitol
- Steroids
Indications for dialysis
- Fluid overload
- Encephalopathy
- Pericarditis
- Metabolic acidosis
- Hyperkalemia
BUN:Cr indications for dilaysis
- No specific level of BUN:Cr
- based on development of life threatening conditions
Hypocalcemia symtpoms
- Seizures
- prolonged QT interval leading to arrhythmia
Patient develops from ATN from gentamicin. She is vigorously hydrated and treated with high doses of diuretic, low dose dopamine, and calcium acetate as a phosphate binder. Urine output increases but she still progresses to end-stage renal failure. She also becomes deaf. What causes her hearing loss?
Furosemide
- causes ototoxicity by damaging the hair cells of the cochlea, resulting in sensorineural hearing loss
Hepatorenal syndrome
renal failure developing secondary to liver disease
- kidneys are intrinsically neural
Hepatorenal syndrome: Hx and PE
- severe liver disease (CIRRHOSIS)
- new-onset renal failure w/ no other explanation
- VERY LOW URINE NA (less than 10 - 15 mEq/L)
- FENA < 1%
- ELEVATED BUN:Cr > 20:1
Hepatorenal syndrome: Treatment
- Midodrine
- Octreotide
- Albumin (albumin is less clear)
Atheroemboli: Etiology
- CHOLESTEROL PLAQUES found in aorta and/or coronary arteries can be “broken off” manipulated during catheter procedures
- CHOLESTEROL EMBOLI lodged in kidney causes AKI
- BLUE/PURPLISH SKIN LESIONS in fingers and toes, LIVEDO RETICULARIS and ocular lesions
Peripheral pulses in atheroemboli
- cholesterol plaques are too small to occlude vessels such as the radial or brachial artery
Atheroemboli: diagnostic tests
- Eosinophilia
- Low complement levels
- Eosinophiluria
- Elevated ESR
Most accurate diagnostic test for atheroemboli?
- Biopsy of one purplish skin lesions
- cholesterol crystals, but this result does not change management b/c there is no specific therapy to reverse atheroembolci disease
Acute (Allergic ) Interstitial Nephritis
- is a form acute renal failure that damages the tubules occurring on idiopathic issues
- antibodies and EOSINOPHILS ATTACK THE CELLS LINING THE TUBULES as a rxn to the drugs (70%), infxn, and autoimmune disorders
Most common cause of acute (allergic) interstitial nephritis
- PENICILLINS and cephalosporin
- SULFA DRUGS
- Phenytoin
- Rifampin
- Quinolones
- Allopurinol
- Proton Pump Inhibitors
Medications that cause AIN are that same as those cause:
- Drug allergy and rash
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis
- Hemolysis
Acute (Allergic) Interstitial Nephritis: Clinical Presentation
- FEVER (80%)
- RASH (50%)
- Arthralgias
- Eosinophilia and EOSINOPHILURIA (80%)
Aside from drugs, other causes of AIN
Autoimmune diseases (e.g. SLE, Sjorgen, and sarcoidosis)
AIN Diagnostic Tests
- Elevated BUN: CR < 20:1
- White and red cells in the urine
Most accurate test for acute (allergic) interstitial nephritis
- Hansel or Wright stain determines whether eosinophils are present
Acute interstitial nephritis: treatment
AIN usually resolves spontaneously w/ stopping the drug or controlling the infection
Analgesic Nephropathy
- ATN from direct toxicity to the tubules
- AIN
- MEMBRANOUS GLOMERULONEPHRITIS
- VASCULAR INSUFFICIENCY
- PAPILLARY NECROSIS
Vascular insufficiency induced analgesic nephropathy
- INHIBIT PROSTAGLANDINS
- NSAIDS inhibit prostaglandins to constrict afferent arteriole and decrease renal perfusion
Papillary necrosis
- sloughing off of the renal papillae
- caused by toxins such as NSAIDS, or sudden vascular insufficiency leadingot death of cells in the pappillaw
Papillary necrosis: Hx and PE
- patient loses 60 - 70% renal function before the creatinine even begins to rise
- Look for extra NSAID use with a hx of:
- SICKLE CELL DISEASE
- Diabetes
- Urinary obstruction
- Chronic pyelonephritis
Papillary necrosis: Clinical presentation
- sudden onset of flank pain, fever, and hematuria in a patient with one of the diseae perviously list
Best initial test for suspected papillary necrosis
Urinanalysis
- grossly visible NECROTIC MATERIAL passed IN THE URINE
Most accurate test for papillary necrosis
CT scan
- shows the abnormal internal structures of the kidney from the loss of the papillae
Papillary Necrosis: Treatment
No specific therapy
Pyelonephritis
- onset in a few days
- Sx: dysuria
- Urine cx: positive
CT findings of pyelonephritis
Diffusely swollen kidney
Pyelonephritis: Treatment
Antibiotics
- such as ampicillin/gentamicin or fluoroquinolones
Papillary necrosis
- onset in a few hours
- necrotic material in urine
- negative urine culture
Papillary necrosis: treatment
No treatment
Tubular Disease: Overview
- Acute
- Toxins
- None nephrotic
- No biopsy usually
- No steroids
- Never additional immunosuppressive agents
Tubular Disease: Treatment
- Correcting HYPOPERFUSION and REMOVING TOXIN
Glomerular Diseases
- generally chronic
- not caused by toxins or hypoperfusion
- all of them can cause nephrotic syndrome
- biopsy indicated
- treated with steroids
- additional immunosuppresive medications
Most accurate diagnostic test for glomerular disease
- Steroids
Main difference between glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome
Degree or AMOUNT of proteinuria
Diagnostic tests for glomerulonephritis
- UA with HEMATURIA
- “DYSMORPHIC” red cells
- RED CELL CASTS
- Urine sodium and FENA are low
- PROTEINURIA
Goodpasture Syndrome
- presents with LUNG AND KIDNEY involvement
- no UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INVOLVEMENT
- no skin, joint, GI, eye, or neurological involvement
Best initial test for Goodpasture Syndrome
- Antiglomerular basement membrane antibodies
Most ACCURATE test for Goodpasture Syndrome
- Lung or kidney biopsy with “LINEAR DEPOSITS”
- anemia is often present from chronic blood loss from hemoptysis
Goodpasture Syndrome: Treatment
- Plasmapheresis and steroids
IgA Nephropathy
- most common cause of acute glomerulonephritis in US
- look for Asian patient w/ recurrent epsiodes of gross hematuria 1 - 2 days after upper respiratory tract infxn
- poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis follows pharyngitis by 1 -2 weeks
Most accurate test for IgA nephropathy
Kidney biopsy
** IgA levels are increased in 50%**
Proteinuria and progression of disease
More proteinuria = worse progression
IgA Nephropathy
- no treatment proven to reverse the disease
- severe proteinuria is treated with ACE inhibitors and steroids
Postinfectious Glomerulonephritis
- most common organism leading to infectious glomerulonephritis is Streptococcus
- follows throat infectiou or skin infection (impetigo) by 1 to 3 weeks