Nephrology (Stearns) Flashcards
Which test is safe, easy to use and most commonly used?
Renal Ultrasonography
Downside to Renal ultrasonography?
less sensitive for renal masses
Which test is the gold standard for renal stones?
CT
Which image studies are preferred in children due to reduced radiation compared to CT?
Radionuclide studies
At what eGFR is gadolinium contraindicated?
eGFR < 30mL/min
- in moderate to advanced kidney disease gadolinium can lead to severe syndrome of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF)
- Thickening of skin on trunk and extremities, and fibrosis of dermis, muscle, fascia, lungs and heart
- Chronic, unremitting - wheelchair bound in weeks
- Exclusive to patients with renal failure
What is Hydronephrosis
Unilateral or bilateral edema of the collecting system
Hydronephrosis: treatment
stent
Acute Kidney Injury
- abrupt (within 48 hours) decline in renal filtration/function
- reversible
Acute renal failure: What two things decrease?
- GFR
2. Urine output - less than 0.5mL/kg/hr for >6hrs
Acute renal failure: What will increase? (2)
- Urea
2. Creatinine (Azotemia)
What are the 3 causes of Acute Renal Failure/Acute Kidney Injury
- Pre-renal AKI
- Intrinsic AKI
- Post-renal AKI
Which of the 3 causes of acute kidney injury is most common?
Pre-renal
Name some causes for prerenal acute kidney injury
***hypoperfusion leading to decrease in renal perfusion
- Decrease in intravascular volume (bleed, diarrheas, burns, dehydration, nephrotic syndrome)
- Change in vascular resistance (cirrhosis, sepsis, anaphylaxis, anesthesia)
- Low cardiac output (CHF, PE, tamponade)
What happens to the BUN/Cr ratio in AKI
increases
What are the characteristic findings with Acute tubular necrosis?
UA: muddy brown casts
What is the most common form of intrinsic acute kidney injury?
Acute tubular necrosis
Name 3 causes of Acute tubular necrosis?
- Ischemia
- Nephrotoxins (aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, Vancomycin, contrast)
- Hypotension/hypoxemia
Acute tubular necrosis: TX (4)
- avoid volume overload
- avoid hyper kalemia
- protein restrict
- +/-diuretics
What do you give with bicarb to renally protect from radiographic contrast?
N-acetylcystine
Acute interstitial nephritis: most common cause
nephrotoxic drugs
What is the classic finding on UA for Acute interstitial nephritis?
eosinophiluria
Acute interstitial nephritis: treatment
-Steroids
+/- dialysis
AKI: Instrinsic causes
- Acute tubular necrosis
- Acute interstitial nephritis
- Glomerular nephritis
- Vascular
What is the etiology of glomerulonephritis?
immune complex deposition
What is the characteristic UA finding for Glomerulonephritis?
RBC casts
Glomerulonephritis: treatment
- steroids
- plasma exchange
AKI: Post renal causes
Obstructive (BPH, stones, bladder dysfunction, anticholinergic drugs, bladder CA)
What are the indications for kidney biopsy
- Nephrotic syndrome: SLE
- Nephritic syndrome
- Unexplained acute renal failure
What is a page kidney? How is it treated?
bleeding into the capsule of the kidney from biopsy. Remove capsule surgically
Azotemia
Nitrogen in the blood (BUN and Cr are markers of nitrogen accumulation)
What is the gold standard for diagnosing CKD
GFR
CKD: treatment
- ACE/ARBs slow progression
- Epogen (medication that works like erythropoietin)
- Low protein diet, fluid restriction, Calcium/Vitamin D supplements
At which stages does uremia develop in kidney disease?
3 to 5
What is the gold standard for diagnosing renal artery stenosis?
Renal angiogram
What is the best initial test for a patient with suspected renal artery stenosis?
Doppler US
In SLE what would you expect to see on UA?
nephritis with proteinuria
What is the treatment for SLE affecting the kidneys?
steroids
Which 2 kidney stones are radiopaque?
Calcium and struvite
Which 2 kidney stones are radiolucent?
Uric acid and cystine
Nephritic Syndrome (4) characteristics
- Hematuria
- RBC casts
- Mild proteinuria
- HTN
Nephrotic Syndrome (4) key characteristics
- Hypoalbuminemia
- Heavy proteinuria (>3.5mg/day)
- Hyperlipidemia
- Edema
Name 3 examples of reversible processes that can lead to a decrease in renal function, but are reversible if fixed early
- Hypovolemia
- Infection
- Drugs: NSAIDs, ACE