past test

Question 1

Drug causes of acute interstitial nephritis?

Answer 1

• rifampicin
• allopurinol
• penicillin, methicillin, cephalosporing
• sulphonamides
• furosemide and thiazides
• cimetidine
• amphotericin
• aspirin and NSAIDs

Question 2

Where in the cell is circular double-stranded DNA found?

Answer 2

Mitochondira

Question 3

What is Alports syndrome?

Answer 3

Alport’s syndrome is usually inherited in an X-linked dominant pattern*. It is due to a defect in the gene which codes for type IV collagen resulting in an abnormal glomerular-basement membrane (GBM). The disease is more severe in males with females rarely developing renal failure.

A favourite question is an Alport’s patient with a failing renal transplant. This may be caused by the presence of anti-GBM antibodies leading to a Goodpasture’s syndrome like picture.

Question 4

Features of Alports?

Answer 4

Alport’s syndrome usually presents in childhood. The following features may be seen:
microscopic haematuria
progressive renal failure
bilateral sensorineural deafness
lenticonus: protrusion of the lens surface into the anterior chamber
retinitis pigmentosa
renal biopsy: splitting of lamina densa seen on electron microscopy

Question 5

What is seen in renal biospy in Alports?

Answer 5

electron microscopy: characteristic finding is of the longitudinal splitting of the lamina densa of the glomerular basement membrane, resulting in a ‘basket-weave’ appearance