Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Yr 3 - Skills & Extras > U&Es Interpretation > Flashcards

U&Es Interpretation Flashcards

1
Q

What is creatinine?

A

creatinine is a waste product from protein and muscle breakdown

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How is creatinine produced?

A
  1. Creatine is a substance produced by the liver
  2. Creatine is phosphylated to make creatine phosphate
  3. Creatine phosphate is broken down to ATP an creatinine
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How is creatinine excreted?

A

renally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

What does one’s baseline creatinine depend on?

A

Muscle mass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

How is urea produced?

A

The urea cycle converts ammonia (toxic product of deamination reactions of amino acids) to urea in the liver.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

How is ammonia produced?

A

Ammonia is the waste produced by metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds like proteins and nucleic acids.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

How is urea excreted?

A

Renally

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Is serum creatinine or urea more specific for renal function?

A

Creatinine (BUT urea increases is increased earlier in renal disease)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What can cause increased urea?

A
  • Dehydration
  • GI bleed (protein meal)
  • Increased protein breakdown e.g. surgery, infection, malignancy
  • High protein intake
  • Drugs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What can cause decreased urea?

A
  • Malnutrition
  • Liver disease
  • Pregnancy
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What criteria defines an AKI

A
  • Rise in serum creatinine >50% from baseline OR;
  • Urine output <0.5ml/kg/hr for 6 hours
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Potential investigations in AKI?

A
  • Urine dipstick
  • Bloods – FBC, U&Es, CRP, Ca2+, phosphate, PTH
  • VBG – check for metabolic acidosis & low bicarbonate, hyperkalaemia
  • Accurate fluid balance chart – requires catheterisation
  • Stopping of any renal-excreted drugs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Give 2 causes of pre-renal AKI

A
  • Hypovolaemia/sepsis (most common AKI cause)
  • Renovascular disease (e.g. renal artery stenosis)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Describe urea vs creatinine level in pre-renal failure

A

Both increased but increase in urea > increase in creatinine

Since creatinine is not reabsorbed, but is increased only as a result of reduced GFR, plasma urea concentration tends to rise out of proportion to the rise in plasma creatinine concentration in patients with prerenal AKI, and this results in increased BCR/UCR.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Pre-renal failure can cause intra-renal failure. What complication is most commonly seen/

A

Acute tubular necrosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Management of pre-renal failure?

A

IV fluid resuscitation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is the most common cause of intrinsic renal failure?

A

Acute tubular necrosis (ischaemic or nephrotoxic)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Give some causes of intrinsic renal failure

A
  • ATN (ischaemic or nephrotoxic)
  • Acute interstitial nephritis
  • Acute glomerulonephritis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What type of renal failure would haematuria and/or proteinuria suggest?

A

Intra-renal failure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

In a patient’s history, what may suggest intra-renal failure?

A
  • Causative drugs
  • Renal hypoperfusion
  • Other glomerulonephritis symptoms
  • Haematuria
  • Proteinuria
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Give some investigations for intra-renal failure?

A
  • Urine dipstick
  • Urine protein-creatinine ratio
  • Possible further tests:
    • Nephritic screen (if suspect glomerulonephritis): ANA, ANCA, anti-GBM, RhF, hepatitis serology, anti-phospholipid Ab
    • Renal biopsy – unexplained AKI, glomerulonephritis suspected, positive nephritic screen
    • Creatinine kinase – if suspect rhabdomyolysis
    • Serum bicarbonate
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Management for glomerulonephritis?

A

Immunosuppressants

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Main complication of intra-renal failure?

A

Irreversible renal damage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Cause of post-renal failure?

A

Urinary tract obstruction (prostate, stones, structure, tumour, blood clots etc)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Describe urea vs creatinine level in post-renal failure

A

Increased urea = increased creatinine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

1st line imaging in post-renal failure?

A

Renal tract USS

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Management of post-renal failure?

A

Relieve obstruction e.g. catheterise (urinary/suprapubic) if urethral or nephrostomy if ureteric

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Main complication of post-renal failure?

A

Pyelonephritis (can progress to irreversible renal damage)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What criteria defines CKD?

A

Presence of marker of kidney damage (e.g. proteinuria) OR decreased GFR for >3 months.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Give 5 common causes of CKD

A
  1. Diabetes (2ary glomerular disease)
  2. Chronic HTN
  3. Chronic glomerulonephritis diseases (e.g. vasculitis)
  4. Polycystic kidney disease
  5. Drugs
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Investigation for glomerulonephritis?

A

Kidney biopsy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Give some complications of CKD

A
  • HTN
  • Oedema
  • Anaemia
  • Renal osteodystrophy
  • Hyperkalaemia
  • Hyperlipidaemia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What critieria indicates the need for dialysis?

A
  • A – Acidosis
  • E – Electrolyte abnormalities (e.g. hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia, hypercalcaemia)
  • I – Intoxicants (methanol, lithium, salicism)
  • O – Overload (acute pulmonary oedema)
  • U – Uraemia

In chronic renal failure, regular dialysis is required when the GFR is <15ml/minute.

34
Q

Is sodium an extracellular or intracellular ion?

A

Extracellular

35
Q

Effect of aldosterone on Na+ and K+?

A

increases N+ reabsorption and K+ excretion from DCT

36
Q

Effect of ADH on Na+ and K+?

A
  • Causes reabsorption of H20 (alone) from the collecting duct which dilutes the level of sodium in the body (can lead to hyponatraemia)
  • Increases potassium loss into the urine
37
Q

Give some causes of hyponatraemia in the context of hypovolaemia (i.e. Na+ lost and water follows)

A

From kidneys:

  • Diuretics
  • Addison’s disease (increased K+)
  • Kidney injury
  • Osmotic diuresis

From elsewhere:

  • Diarrhoea/vomiting
  • Fistula
  • Burns
38
Q

How does diarrhoea/vomiting affect Na+ level?

A

Hyponatraemia

39
Q

How do burns affect Na+ level?

A

Hyponatraemia

40
Q

Give some causes of hyponatraemia in the context of euvolaemia (i.e. H20 gained and normal Na+)

A

From kidneys:

  • SIADH
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Glucocorticoid insufficiency

From elsewhere:

  • H20 intoxication
41
Q

How does SIAD affect sodium levels?

A

Hyponatraemia (due to increased ADH causing dilution of sodium)

42
Q

How does hypothryoidism affect sodium levels?

A

Hyponatraemia

43
Q

Give some causes of hyponatraemia in the context of oedema (i.e. H20 gained and normal Na+)

A
  • Congestive cardiac failure
  • Hypoalbuminaemia (e.g. cirrhosis or nephrotic syndrome)
44
Q

Why does hypoalbuminaemia lead to hyponatraemia?

A

Hypoalbuminemia causes a shift of fluid from the plasma to the interstitial spaces and a decrease in serum volume, with release of ADH → hyponatraemia

45
Q

What specific test can be used to test for Addison’s disease?

A

Synacthen (synthetic ACTH) test or 9am cortisol screening

46
Q

What specific test can be used to test for SIADH?

A

Confirmed by combination of low plasma osmolality and high urine osmolality (i.e. low sodium in blood, high sodium in urine)

47
Q

Management of SIADH?

A

Fluid restriction

48
Q

Cause of hypernatraemia in the context of normovolaemia

A

Iatrogenic (e.g. excess IV crystalloids, sodium containing drugs)

49
Q

Cause of hypernatraemia in the context of hypovolaemia

A
  • Producing small volumes of concentrated urine (normal response to hypovolaemia)
    • Fluid loss → diarrhoea, vomiting, burns
  • Not producing small volumes of concentrated urine (abnormal response to hypovolaemia)
    • Diabetes insipidus
    • Osmotic diuresis (e.g. DKA)
50
Q

Is potassium intracellular or extracellular?

A

90% intracellular

51
Q

Why do H+ and K+ concentrations vary together?

A

H+ and K+ concentrations vary together because both compete for Na+ symporter in cells and DCT

52
Q

How does insulin affect K+?

A

increase cellular K+ uptake by stimulating cellular Na+(in)/K+(out) pumps

53
Q

How do catecholamines affect K+?

A

increase cellular K+ uptake by stimulating cellular Na+(in)/K+(out) pumps

54
Q

How does aldosterone affect K+?

A

increases Na+(in)/K+(out) pumps in distal convoluted tubule and therefore increases K+ excretion

55
Q

Give some causes of hypokalaemia due to increased renal excretion

A
  • Diuretics (except K+ sparing)
  • Endocrinological – steroids, Cushing’s disease, Conn’s syndrome
  • Renal tubular acidosis
  • Hypomagnesaemia
56
Q

How vomiting/diarrhoea affect K+?

A

Hypokalaemia

57
Q

Give some causes of hypokalaemia due to increased cellular uptake

A
  • Salbutamol
  • Insulin
  • Alkalosis
58
Q

Management of hypokalaemia?

A
  • Treat cause
  • Add potassium chloride to IV fluids
59
Q

Give some causes of hyperkalaemia due to reduced renal excretion

A
  • Acute/chronic kidney injury
  • Drugs (K+ sparing diuretics, ACEi, NSAIDs)
  • Addison’s disease
60
Q

How does hypomagnesaemia affect K+?

A

Causes hypokalaemia

61
Q

How do NSAIDs affect K+?

A

Hypokalaemia

62
Q

Give some causes of hyperkalaemia due to excess K+ load

A
  • Iatrogenic
  • Massive blood transfusion
63
Q

Give some causes of hyperkalaemia due to increased cellular release

A
  • Acidosis
  • Tissue breakdown e.g. rhabdomyolysis, haemolysis
64
Q

ECG changes seen in hyperkalaemia?

A
  • Low flat P waves
  • wide bizarre QRS
  • slurring into ST segment
  • tall tented T waves
65
Q

Give 4 pharmacological agents that may be used in the management of hyperkalaemia

A
  1. Calcium gluconate
  2. Insulin & glucose
  3. Salbutamol
  4. Calcium resonium
66
Q

How is calcium gluconate effective in managing hyperkalaemia?

A
  • Protects myocytes (required if ECG changes or K+ >6.5)
  • Works in minutes
  • Lasts 30-60 minutes
67
Q

How is insulin+glucose effective in hyperkalaemia?

A
  • Temporarily shift K+ into cells
  • Check capillary glucose before & after
  • Gradually decreases K+
  • Lasts 60 mins

Nebulised salbutamol may be added for same effect

68
Q

What is the only treatment that actually removes K+ from body?

A

Calcium resonium

69
Q

Calcium homeostasis:

70
Q

Give some causes of hypocalcaemia due to increased renal excretion (increased phosphate, increased PTH)

A
  • Drugs (loop diuretics)
  • CKD
  • Rhabdomyolysis/tumour lysis syndrome
71
Q

Give some PTH-related causes of hypocalcaemia (increased phosphate, decreased PTH)

A
  • Hypoparathyroidism
  • Hypomagnesaemia
  • Pseudohypoparathyroidism (resistance to PTH)
  • Cinacalcet
72
Q

Give some causes of hypocalcaemia due to increased deposition/reduced uptake (decreased phosphate, increased PTH)

A
  • Bisphosphonates
  • Vitamin D deficiency
73
Q

How do bisphosphonates affect calclium?

A

Hypocalcaemia

74
Q

Management of vitamin D deficiency?

A

Vitamin D analogues e.g. alfacalcidol

75
Q

Give some causes of hypercalcaemia

A
  • Decreased renal excretion:
    • Drugs (thiazide diuretics)
  • Increased release from bones:
    • Boney metastasis (increased ALP)
    • Myeloma (normal ALP)
    • Sarcoidosis
    • Thyrotoxicosis
  • Excess PTH:
    • 1ary hyperparathyroidism (increased PTH) or 3ary hyperparathyroidism (massively increased PTH)
  • Excess vitamin D intake
  • Dehydration (raised urea & albumin)
76
Q

How does thyrotoxicosis affect calcium?

A

Hypercalcaemia

77
Q

How do bony mets affect calcium?

A

Hypercalcaemia

78
Q

How does myeloma affect calcium?

A

Hypercalcaemia

79
Q

How does sarcoidosis affect calcium?

A

Hypercalcaemia

80
Q

What is hypophosphataemia seen in?

A
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Refeeding syndrome
  • 1ary hyperparathyroidism
  • Poor nutrition/alcoholism
81
Q

How does PTH affect phosphate?

A

Hypophosphataemia

Yr 3 - Skills & Extras (7 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions