Nephrology Flashcards
(181 cards)
what is the definition of CKD?
A glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 on at least two occasions separated by a period of at least 90 days (with or without markers of kidney damage).
Markers of kidney damage such as urinary albumin:creatinine ratio (ACR) greater than 3 mg/mmol, urine sediment abnormalities, electrolyte and other abnormalities due to tubular disorders, abnormalities detected by histology, structural abnormalities detected by imaging, and a history of kidney transplantation.
what are the risk factors for CKD?
HTN
DM - most common cause
glomerular disease - such as acute glomerulonephritis
patients with previous AKI
nephrotoxic medication
px radiotherapy
conditions associated with obstructive uropathy
SLE/meyloma/HIV
gout
FHx of CKD
what are some complications of CKD?
AKI
HTN
Dyslipidaemia
CVD
ESRD
Hyperkalaemia
pulmonary oedema - secondary to fluid overload
anaemia
mineral and bone disorder
peripheral neuropathy
malnutrition
risk of renal Ca
stroke
what initial investigations should be organised in CKD?
If eGFR<60 – repeat the test within 2 weeks to ensure not acute
If eGFR is still < 60 but stable, repeat again within 3 months + arrange ACR
If ACR between 3-70 mg/mmol - repeat the test again within 3 months to confirm.
If ACR > 70 – no repeat needed, refer to renal.
Arrange urine dipstick – check for haematuria – if persistent on x2 dipsticks – refer via 2ww.
when would you suspect deteriorating CKD?
If accelerated fall – sustained decrease in eGFR of 25% or more and change in CKD category within 12 months OR sustained decrease in eGFR of 15 mL/min in 12 months
what investigations should be carried out in deteriorating CKD?
Repeat serum eGFR three times over minimum of 3 months
If progression evident then:
Arrange renal USS
Check for nephrotoxic meds / reversible causes
Refer to renal for specialist input
ALSO arrange FBC – if renal anaemia suspected – refer to renal team.
what is the management of stable CKD?
repeat bloods yearly - or as soon as recommended based on category
Manage lifestyle factors
Optimise blood pressure -
If ACR <30, manage as per non-ckd HTN
If ACR >30 – trial of ACE-I or ARB (not together) , then add in other anti-hypertensives
Start atorvastatin 20mg OD
Offer antiplatelet to all people with CKD to prevent CVD
Consider SGLT-2 inhibitor – offer to T2DM with CKD
what are some symptoms of CKD?
oedema: e.g. ankle swelling, weight gain
polyuria
lethargy
pruritus (secondary to uraemia)
anorexia, which may result in weight loss
insomnia
nausea and vomiting
hypertension
what factors can affect eGFR result?
pregnancy
muscle mass (e.g. amputees, body-builders)
eating red meat 12 hours prior to the sample being taken
when would you suspect renal artery stenosis?
refractory hypertension, recurrent pulmonary oedema with normal left ventricular function, or an increase in serum creatinine of 20% or more when started on an angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitor.
what is renal artery stenosis?
Renal artery stenosis (RAS) is a significant cause of secondary hypertension and can lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). It occurs due to narrowing of the renal arteries, often caused by atherosclerosis or fibromuscular dysplasia.
how does renal artery stenosis cause hypertension?
RAS reduces renal perfusion pressure, stimulating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), leading to increased blood pressure and sodium retention. Over time, this can result in nephron damage and progressive CKD.
what are the causes of anaemia in CKD?
reduced EPO secretion from the kidneys
reduced absorption of iron
what is the mechanism leading to reduced EPO secretion in CKD?
EPO is produced in the kidneys, usually in response to hypoxia. In CKD, the nephrons are destroyed, leading to less production of EPO resulting in decreased erythropoesis in the bone marrow - this contributes to a nromocytic normochromic anaemia
at what eGFR level do you tend to see anaemia secondary to CKD?
tends to occur when eGFR <35
what is the mechanism behind anaemia in CKD due to reduced absorption of iron?
hepcidin is an acute-phase reactant
in CKD, hepcidin levels are often increased due to inflammation and reduced renal clearance
elevated hepcidin levels lead to decreased iron absorption from the gut and impaired release of stored iron from macrophages and hepatocytes, reducing the iron available for erythropoiesis
additionally, metabolic acidosis, a common condition in CKD, can inhibit the conversion of ferric iron (Fe³º) to its absorbable form, ferrous iron (Fe²º), in the duodenum → reduced iron absorption.
what is the target haemoglobin for patients with anaemia secondary to CKD?
10-12 g/dl
what is the management of anaemia secondary to CKD?
refer to renal team
usually - commenced on epoetin alfa
also can commence on iron if needed
what is glomerulonephritis?
inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidneys leading to impaired filtration. This can be either acute or chronic.
what are some causes of acute glomerulonpehritis?
Infections - post strep glomerulonephritis (most common), IE, viral ix
autoimmune - lupus, goodpasture syndrome, IgA Nephropathy
Vasculitis - Wengers granulomatosis, microcytic polyangiitis
Others - i.e. toxins/medications/blood disorders such as TTP/HUS
what are some acute infective causes of glomerulonephritis?
post strep glomerulonephritis
bacterial endocarditis
viral infections - hep B, hep C, HIV
what is post strep glomerulonephritis?
acute glomerulonephritis that occurs after infection with group A strep bacteria - usually skin (impetigo) or throat
what is the pathophysiology of post strep glomerulonephritis?
strep infection (impetigo or throat) causes immune system to produce antibodies to fight the infection, this leads to the formation of antibody-antigen complexes that get trapped within the glomeruli, which triggers inflammation - leading to kidney damage + impaired infiltration
what are the symptoms of PSGN?
haematuria - dark urine
oedema
HTN
oliguria
fatigue + weakness
mild fever in some cases