Week 3 RNU Lectures Flashcards
Why is generation of CO2 a threat to homeostasis?
CO2 acts as an acid
What amino acids create an acid load when metabolised?
Lusine, arginine, methionine, cysteine
What amino acids create an alkali load when metabolised?
Glutamate, aspartate
Is a protein rich diet acid or alkali?
It is acid load
Is a vegetarian diet acid or alkali?
Alkali load
Why is incomplete respiration (anaerobic respiration) a threat to homeostasis?
Keto-acids and lactic acid can be produced
Why can vomiting be a threat to homeostasis?
Loss of acid
What are the 3 main components of acid-base regulation?
- Buffering
- Ventilation
- Renal regulation
How does renal regulation control acid-base conc.?
Regulation of HCO3 and H+ secretion and reabsorption
How is ventilation involved in regulating acid-base balance?
Control of CO2
What does acidotic mean?
Low bicarbonate
What is acidaemia?
High H+
What does alkalotic mean?
Low H+
What is alkalaemia?
High bicarbonate
How could H+ concentration be normal in the presence of an acid-base disturbance?
At the expense of other blood chemistry (HCO3 conc. or pCO2)
What are buffers?
Weak acids that are partially dissociated in solution
What is the Bronsted Lowry theory?
An acid is a substance capable of donating a H+ ion
The conjugate base is the substance that accepts it
What are the defences against acidosis?
- Immediate - consumption of HCO3 - buffering
- Rapid - increase in ventilation
- Slow - renal adjustment to HCO3 concentration
What is the principle physiological buffer?
CO2-HCO3 system
Why is [CO2] held constant?
CO2 is highly diffusible and [CO2] is regulated and controlled by respiration
What is respiratory acidosis?
Not breathing
What is metabolic acidosis?
Addition of H+ ions
What can HCO3 not buffer?
Respiratory acid
What is another important physiological buffer? (not HCO3)
Plasma protein especially Hb which buffers CO2 in blood
What does increasing respiratory rate do?
Lowers pCO2
How do the kidneys regulate acid-base balance?
- Reabsorb filtered HCO3
- Secrete “fixed” acids
• Titrate non- HCO3 buffer in urine - primarily PO4
• Secrete NH4 into urine
How are the regulatory functions of the kidneys in acid base balance achieved?
Using selective permeability of the luminal and basolateral cell membranes to match the transport of H+ and HCO3 in opposite directions
Where does most HCO3 reabsorption take place?
It is an active process that takes place largely in the proximal tubule with small contributions from the ascending loop of Henley and the distal convoluted tubule
What can the inability to reabsorb filtered HCO3 cause?
metabolic acidosis
What is a major mechanism for H+ entering tubule?
Na/H anti-porter
How many Na ions are reabsorbed with each HCO3 ion?
1
What is the net change in H+ or HCO3 in reabsorption of filtered HCO3?
There is no net change
How much “fixed acid” is required to be eliminated daily?
About 70mmol/day
What is the excretion of an H+ ion matched with?
The generation of a new HCO3 which is absorbed
What are the two components of excretion of fixed acid?
- Excretion of titratable acid (mostly phosphate)
- Excretion of NH4+
What is more common acidotic (abnormal HCO3) or acidaemic (decreased pH)?
More patients will be acidotic
What is [HCO3] like in metabolic acidosis?
Decreased [HCO3] –> decreased pH
What is pH like in metabolic alkalosis?
increased
What is [CO2] like in respiratory acidosis?
Increased [CO2] –> decreased pH
What is [CO2] like in respiratory alkalosis?
decreased [CO2] –> increased pH
What are potential causes of metabolic acidosis?
- Addition of extra acid
- failure to excrete acid
- Loss of HCO3
what is the primary abnormality in metabolic acidosis?
Fall in plasma HCO3
What is the compensatory response of the body to metabolic acidosis?
Fall in pCO2 due to respiratory drive
What are the metabolic symptoms of metabolic acidosis?
protein wasting, resorption of Ca from bone
What are the CVS symptoms of metabolic acidosis?
arrhythmias, decreased cardiac contractility
What are the respiratory symptoms of metabolic acidosis?
increased ventilation (Kussmaul’s breathing)
What is a high anion gap due to?
The presence of an organic acid
What does hypoalbuminemia do to the anion gap?
Reduces it as albumin is a major plasmin anion
How is the anion gap calculated?
[Na] - [Cl + HCO3]
What is the normal range for the anion gap?
9-16
How much does decreased albumin affect the anion gap?
Every 10g/L fall in [albumin] reduces the anion gap by 2.5
How much should pCO2 fall for every 1mmol/L fall in bicarbonate?
(as compensation for metabolic acidosis)
0.125kPa
If this has not fallen sufficiently then there may be a co-existing respiratory acidosis
What happens in acidosis of chronic renal failure?
- As renal function declines, most patients become acidotic
- Initially this is a normal-AG acidosis due to reduced renal ammonium excretion
- Titratable acid excretion initially preserved due to ↑PO4 excretion and ↓ PO4 reabsorption in PCT
- Eventually patients may develop high AG as PO4 and other anions accumulate
What can cause lactic acidosis?
usually results from hypoperfusion and reduced hepatic clearance – major problem in sepsis
Drugs (metformin), Liver failure, Poisoning (cyanide, aspirin)
What is the primary abnormality in metabolic alkalosis?
Decreased H+ and increased HCO3
What is the compensatory response to metabolic alkalosis?
Hypoventilation –> increased pCO2
What is volume depleted type metabolic alkalosis usually caused by?
Gastric acid loss (vomiting)
What should the response to alkalosis be?
To excrete HCO3 (equivalent to retaining H+)
What is maintenance of alkalosis due to?
Failure to excrete HCO3 - occurs as HCO3 is reabsorbed with Na when there is a deficiency of Cl
How does chloride depletion contribute to metabolic alkalosis?
HCO3 reabsorption in DCT requires Cl secretion – if tubular CL reduced, gradient to reabsorb HCO3
How does potassium depletion contribute to metabolic alkalosis?
Not entirely clear probably a combination of factors
- e.g. distal tubule H secretion occurs with K transport in opposite direction – in trying to retain K, H will be excreted leading to alkalosis
What causes respiratory alkalosis?
Hyperventilation - thus decreased pCO2 with compensatory response to excrete HCO3
What causes respiratory acidosis?
Hypoventilation - thus increased PCO2 with compensatory response to retain HCO3
What does examination of the urine tell us?
- Shows how the kidney is reacting to changes in the extracellular fluid sensed volume and composition
- shows other metabolic processes in the body
- Shows if the glomerular filtration barrier is damaged
- Shows inflamed or neoplastic tissue in the lining of the urinary tract
- shows recent toxin ingestion
How is the urine examined?
- Inspection
- Dipstick testing
- Microscopy
- Urine biochemistry
What does visible (frank/gross) haematuria mean?
Blood can be seen with the naked eye
What does non-visible (microscopic) haematuria mean?
Blood would show on dipstick but can only be seen with a microscope
Where could the source of blood in the urine be?
Anywhere in the urinary tract from the glomerular basement membrane to the urethra
What does protein +/- blood in the urine indicate?
Glomerular disease
What is a cast in the urine?
In the tubules leakage of proteins and blood cells forms a cast the width and shape of the tubule
What are urine electrolytes and osmolality useful for?
- confirming kidneys responding to reduced sensed intravascular volume ([Na] <20mmol/L, osmolality much higher than plasma osmolality)
- Identifying if plasma electrolyte disturbance is due to kidney tubular dysfunction
- Working out the cause of some acid disorders
- Identifying a stone-forming tendency
How can we tell when the kidneys aren’t working?
- Low eGFR - <60ml/min
- Rise in serum creatinine within the eGFR>ml/mini range
How is kidney injury/disease defined?
Reduced eGFR and detection and quantification of urine protein +/- blood
How is the aetiology of kidney injury/disease identified?
a combination of history, examination and investigation
What is the difference between acute and chronic?
Acute is over a couple of weeks and chronic is over a long period of time
What are examples of causes of AKI or CKD?
- Ineffective blood supply (reduced effective plasma volume or narrowed renal arteries)
- Glomerular diseases
- Tubulo-interstitial diseases
- obstructive uropathy
What is a warning of impending acute tubular necrosis?
Oliguria (low urine output)
What is the classification scale of CKD?
Stage 1 - Kidney damage with normal or increased GFR
Stage 2 - kidney damage with mildly impaired GFR
Stage 3 - Moderately impaired GFR
Stage 4 - severely impaired GFR
Stage 5 - Established renal failure
What are the causes of AKI/CKD best thought of?
Pre-renal
Obstructive
Renal parenchymal
What is a key treatment in oliguria?
IV saline
What are patients with CKD at risk of?
- Progressive deterioration in kidney function
- CV disease
What is X-ray good for imaging in terms of the kidney?
Useful for radio-opaque stones
What is ultrasound used for in terms of the kidney?
- kidney size
- Kidney shape
- Location and number
- Structure
- drainage/ obstruction
- renal blood flow
How thick should the cortex of the kidney be?
> 1cm
Normally what is more echo bright the kidney or liver?
Liver
What is CT useful for in terms of the kidney?
Trauma, stones, tumours, infection
What is non-contrast CT used for in kidney imaging?
Information of renal stones - location +/- type
What is contrast CT used for in kidney imaging?
Information on arteries/ veins/ perfusion/ neighbouring structures/ excretion of contrast
What is MRI used for in kidney imaging?
Useful for soft tissue pathology: tumour, infection
May be used in the assessment of:
- renal structure (cysts/ tumours)
- Renal vasculature (MRA)
What is isotope scanning used for in kidney imaging?
- structure
- perfusion
- excretion
- differential renal function
What causes renal stones?
When there is a lot of solute (calcium, oxalate, urate, cysteine) to not enough solution (filtrate/ urine)
What is a kidney stone / renal calculus/ nephrolithiasis?
A solid concentration of crystal aggregation formed within the urinary space
How can kidney stones be classified?
By location or by composition
How are kidney stones classified by location?
Kidney/nephrolithiasis
Ureter/ ureterolithiasis
Bladder / cystolithiasis
How are kidney stones classified by composition?
Calcium - phosphate/ calcium oxalate
Urate/cysteine/struvite etc.