Kidney Failure Causes, Symptoms andTreatment Flashcards
(24 cards)
How can doctors detect kidney failure?
-Analysis of Urine
-Estimate the GFR
How can doctors detect kidney failure by analysing the urine?
Plasma proteins, glucose/amino acids and RBC’s would be present
How would these be present in the urine?
By the basement membrane being damaged e.g. from high blood pressure
What does GFR stand for?
Glomerular Filtrate Rate
What is GFR?
How fast filtrate is leaving glomerular capillaries and entering bowman’s capsule
What are the 3 ranges for the GFR?
Normal=90 to 120
Kidney Failure- <60
Medical Emergency/Death= < 15
What happens to the GFR naturally and during pregnancy?
-Naturally decreases with age
-In pregnancy, increases by about 50% but this is normal
What are the 5 causes of kidney failure?
-High blood pressure
-Genetics
-Diabetes
-Infection
-Heart disease
How does high blood pressure cause kidney failure?
Forces plasma proteins through basement membrane which damages it
How does diabetes cause kidney failure?
If not controlled can cause kidneys to fail as high level of glucose in blood
How does infection cause kidney failure?
Causes inflammation in the cells of the kidney so selective reabsoption or ultra-filtration may not happen effectively
What is the first symptom of kidney failure?
Urea building up in blood (uraemia) causing someone to vomit, weight loss and damage to CNS
What is the second symptom of kidney failure?
Decrease in osmoregulation and electrolyte regulation which can cause swelling (odema)
What is the third symptom of kidney failure?
Decrease in erythropoietin (EPO) which is a hormone released by healthy kidneys that stimulates bone marrow to produce RBC’s (can cause anaemia)
What are the 2 treatments for kidney failure?
-Transplant
-Dialysis
Transplant work for kidney failure
-Old kidney is left in so have 3
-Normally from a living relative/match
-Have to take immunosuppressants to decrease risk of rejection
-Best long term solution unless really old
What are the two types of dialysis?
-Peritoneal
-Haemodialysis
Haemodialysis for kidney failure
-Often done while waiting for transplant or can’t have transplant e.g. too old
-4 to 5 hours, 2 to 3 times a week
-In a hospital/clinic
-Feel progressively worse between treatments as toxins build up
How does haemodialysis work?
-Blood from artery is mixed with anticoagulants and enters catheter of machine and blood is then pumped back out by a vein
-toxins diffuse through a partially permeable membrane in the catheter into the dialysis fluid
What do anticoagulants do?
Decrease risk of blood clots
What does dialysis fluid contain?
-Glucose and amino acids in same concentration as healthy plasma
-Urea and ions in very low concentration
What does the urea and ions in very low concentration do?
Gives low water potential so no osmosis happens stopping H2O from going to blood
Why is the dialysis fluid constantly refreshed?
To maintain concentration gradeint
How else is a concentration gradient maintained?
Dialysis fluid is pumped in and out by a counter current
