Urology II - Week 1

Question 1

Front: What is chronic kidney disease (CKD)?

Answer 1

Back: CKD refers to azotaemia, decreased GFR, or kidney damage that persists for more than 3 months without improving.

Question 2

Front: Why is the term CKD preferred over “chronic renal failure”?

Answer 2

Back: CKD is preferred because it is easier for owners to understand and remember.

Question 3

Front: How is “chronic” defined in CKD diagnosis?

Answer 3

Back: Chronic means persisting for more than 3 months, as the recovery phase of AKI can last this long.

Question 4

Front: What is the clinical consequence of the definition of CKD?

Answer 4

Back: CKD cannot always be diagnosed based on a single blood/urine sample; stable azotaemia over time is required for diagnosis.

Question 5

Front: Describe the relationship between AKI and CKD.

Answer 5

Back: AKI may lead to persistent CKD if kidney function doesn’t fully recover, and pre-existing CKD is a risk factor for AKI.

Question 6

Front: How can acute and chronic azotaemia be distinguished?

Answer 6

Back: Duration of clinical signs, body condition score, packed cell volume, palpation of the kidneys, and enlargement of the parathyroid glands can help distinguish between acute and chronic azotaemia.

Question 7

Front: What are the main histopathological findings in CKD?

Answer 7

Back: Interstitial nephritis with inflammation, fibrosis, and loss of normal tubule structures is commonly observed.

Question 8

Front: List some specific causes of CKD.

Answer 8

Back: Amyloidosis, congenital renal dysplasia, polycystic kidney disease, renal telangiectasia, and renal neoplasia are some specific causes.

Question 9

Front: What are some risk factors for CKD?

Answer 9

Back: Periodontal disease, frequent vaccination in cats, and comorbidities like cardiac disease, hypercalcaemia, and lower urinary tract disease may increase the risk of CKD.

Question 10

Front: How can CKD prevalence vary in dogs and cats?

Answer 10

Back: In dogs, CKD prevalence is approximately 0.2-0.35%, higher in older dogs, and varies by breed. In cats, the prevalence is around 4% overall but increases with age, reaching 30-40% in cats over 10 years old.

Question 11

Front: What are IRIS stages used for in CKD?

Answer 11

Back: IRIS stages are used to standardize CKD definitions, estimate progression rates, and provide prognostic information. Animals must be staged when their disease is stable.

Question 12

Front: How can IRIS staging help predict prognosis in CKD?

Answer 12

Back: IRIS staging can estimate survival times for dogs and cats with CKD, with higher stages associated with shorter median survival times.