The Kidney Flashcards
what nitrogenous waste does the kidney excrete?
urea
what happens if the kidney cannot excrete nitrogenous waste?
uraemia (pericarditis/ encephalopathy/ neuropathy/ asterixis/ gastritis)
what happens if the kidneys cannot control fluid balance?
retention
oedema
what happens if the kidneys cannot control electrolyte balance?
hyperkalaemia
arrhythmias
what happens if the kidneys cannot control acid-base balance?
metabolic acidosis
Kussmaul’s respiration
what happens if vitamin D metabolism and phosphate excretion are not working in the kidneys?
renal bone disease
vascular calcification
what happens if the kidneys can’t produce erythropoietin?
anaemia
what happens if the kidneys cannot excrete drugs?
drug toxicity e.g. digoxin and gabapentin
what happens if there is a loss of barrier to proteins in the kidneys?
proteinuria
nephrotic syndrome
presentation of glomerular injury?
proteinuria
presentation of interstitial kidney diseases
raised creatinine
reduced GFR
bland urine dip
methods of measuring proteinuria
reagent strips
ACR (or PCR)
role of reagent strips
screening but are not sensitive to low levels
methods of looking at a kidney biopsy
H&E staining (glomeruli)
immunofluorescence (immune components)
electron microscopy
