Urological Disorders Flashcards
List the normal functions of the kidney.
Filtration:
Removal of waste substance. Keeping essential substances within the blood e.g. blood cells, large protein including albumin.
Control salt and water balance
Control of acid/base balance
Hormone - erythropoietin (EPO) production: essential for synthesis of Hb.
Vitamin D - 1-alpha hydroxylation of vitamin D.
List the things kidney dysfunction can lead to.
Filtration failure - Unwell with accumulation of waste substance.
Haematuria and proteinuria, low serum protein (including albumin) in blood.
Hypertension, water retention (sometimes dehydration as unable to make concentrated urine)
Metabolic acidosis
Anaemia
Vitamin D deficiency and secondary hyperparathyroidism.
What are the possible locations for an infection in urological disorders?
What are the potential pathogens?
Bladder - cystitis
Kidney - pyelonephritis
Bacteria - most common
Viral and fungal - immunocompromised patients
List the components of forming a diagnosis for urological disorders.
History
Physical examination
Urine dipstick
Urine microscopy, culture and sensitivity
What signs can indicate a patient has a UTI?
Temperature - 38 degrees celsius
BP - 105/70 mmHg
Pulse - 80 bpm
Abdomen - soft, slightly tender over suprapubic area and left loin
What investigations can be done to determine if a patient has a UTI?
Urine dipstick - 2+ leukocytes, + nitrite, trace of blood
Urine microscopy, culture and sensitivity (blood tests e.g. renal profile: electrolyte, urea and creatinine).
List the components of the treatment and overall clinical management for UTIs.
Supportive e.g. hydration
AB
Pain control
Consider imaging if other factors or differential diagnosis
Some patients may be very ill and need to be treated as inpatient.
What does the use of antibiotics for treatment of UTIs depend upon?
Severity of illness
How can the immune system damage the kidney?
Antibody
Inflammatory cells (neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, T-cells)
What is the term for inflammation of the microscopic filtering units of the kidney?
Glomerulonephritis
What 3 things are a part of the clinical presentation if the urological disorder has an immunological cause?
Nephritic syndrome
Proteinuria
Nephrotic syndrome
What are the 3 patterns of organ involvement for urological inflammatory conditions?
Kidney only
Kidney and lung
Multiple organs/tissues involved
What may the diagnostic approach for determining a diagnosis for a urological inflammatory condition involve?
History and physical examination Urine test Blood test - including immunology tests Imaging - start with ultrasound Kidney biopsy
What may a person with nephritic syndrome have?
Haematuria
Variable amount of proteinuria
May have hypertension, reduced urine output, increased urea and creatinine.
What may you find upon physical examination of a patient with nephritic syndrome?
Normal temp. + chest and abdomen Ankle - no peripheral oedema Pulse 70 bpm Inflamed tonsil BP 140/100
What investigation results show that a patient has nephritic syndrome?
Urine dipstick: 3+ blood, 2+ protein
Blood tests: raised serum urea and creatinine concentration.
Reduced GFR (autoantibodies not detected)
Urine: raised urine protein:creatinine ratio
Kidney biopsy: IgA Nephropathy
What is the most common primary glomerulonephritis world-wide?
Nephritic syndrome - IgA Nephropathy
(Deposition of IgA antibody in the kidney; get inflammation and scarring).
What % ~ of people with glomerulonephritis progress to kidney failure?
30%
How can you treat nephritic syndrome caused by an IgA nephropathy?
Supportive - treat hypertension and reduce proteinuria. 1st line treatment: angiotensin receptor inhibitor (ARB e.g. irbesartan) or angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI e.g. ramipril).
Immunotherapy - Renal replacement therapy when reaching late stage kidney disease → Kidney transplantation and dialysis.
Give an example of urological inflammatory conditions with an immunological cause which are organ specific to the kidney and lung.
Goodpasture’s disease - anti-GBM antibody mediated.
Common antigen between lung and kidney: alpha-3 chain of type IV collagen