6. Measuring Kidney Function

Question 1

how do the kidneys work

Answer 1

blood with waste products comes into the kidney (through renal artery)

waste products get removed and go to the bladder

essential nutrients and water are absorbed back into the blood stream

waste products in bladder are excreted through urine

Question 2

example of substances that get reabsorbed into bloodstream

Answer 2

glucose
amino acids
various electrolytes

Question 3

what is aldosterone, and what are likely targets

Answer 3

it is a steroid hormone

likely targets
sodium retention
potassium excretion

Question 4

functions of the kidneys

Answer 4

• remove waste products from the body
• balance the body’s fluids
• activate vitamin D
• regulate blood pressure
• control the production of red blood cells by producing erythropoietin

Question 5

pitting odema

Answer 5

condition characterized by swelling in the body’s tissues that leaves an indentation or “pit” when pressure is applied

often caused by kidney failure

Question 6

5 stages of kidney disease

Answer 6

stage 1 - normal or high function
stage 2 - mildly decreased function
stage 3 - mild to moderately decreased function
stage 4 - severely decreased function
stage 5 - kidney failure

Question 7

GFR

Answer 7

glomerular filtration rate

Question 8

what is hemodialysis

Answer 8

a medical procedure used to treat advanced kidney failure by filtering waste products and excess fluids from the blood

Question 9

how does hemodialysis work

Answer 9

• venous access
• blood is pumped out of their body
• heparin is fused into the blood (to make sure it does not clot)
• blood goes through dialyzer that mimics the function of a kidney removing toxins, waste products, excess fluid
• filtered blood returned to patients body

Question 10

what if the life expectancy of someone on dialysis

Answer 10

if they do not get a transplant - 6 years

Question 11

peritoneal dialysis

Answer 11

filters out toxins and waste products

• catheter is placed into the abdomen
• dialysis fluid entered in to help remove waste products
• dialysis solution now containing waste products is drained out of the abdomen through the catheter

Question 12

how many kidneys does someone who has had a transplant have

Answer 12

3

Question 13

what is a classic sign that someone has had a kidney transplant

Answer 13

hockey stick shaped scar

Question 14

problems with kidney transplants

Answer 14

• hard to stop rejection
• anti rejection medicine is harmful to kidneys
• not enough doctors

Question 15

what is a recent advancement in treating kidney disease

Answer 15

taking kidneys from genetically altered pigs and putting them into humans

Question 16

what is the ‘normal’ GFR for an adult male

Answer 16

90 to 120 ml per minute

Question 17

what is a common way of assessing kidney function

Answer 17

creatinine levels in the blood

Question 18

the removal of race in eGFR equations reduced the eligibility for

Answer 18

• living donors
• anti cancer therapy
• medications based on renal dosing

Question 19

the removal of race in eGFR equations expands the eligibility for

Answer 19

• referral to a nephrologist
• kidney transplant waitlist
• coverage for kidney disease education