Nephrology Secrets

Rhabdomyolysis

1. What is rhabdomyolysis? Rhabdomyolysis is a condition characterized by muscle injury leading to myocyte necrosis and the release of intracellular contents into the circulation. The term is usually applied when acute kidney injury (AKI) results from the muscle injury,…

Sepsis

1. How is sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) defined? SA-AKI is characterized by the simultaneous presence of AKI (based on a consensus definition such as the Acute Kidney Injury Network [AKIN] or Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes [KDIGO] criteria; see…

Medications

Drugs covered 1. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) 2. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin-receptor blocker (ARB) 3. Sodium phosphate 4. Pamidronate and zoledronate 5. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) 6. Checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) chemotherapy 7. Antiangiogenesis drugs 8. Cisplatin 9. Braf inhibitors…

Cardiorenal syndrome

Background 1. What does cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) mean? The term CRS has been used to define different clinical conditions in which heart and kidney dysfunction overlap. A consensus classification of CRS is outlined in Table 9.1 . Table 9.1. Classification…

Hepatorenal syndrome

1. What is hepatorenal syndrome? The current definition of hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) updated in 2007 by the International Ascites Club (IAC) states that it is “a potentially reversible syndrome that occurs in patients with cirrhosis, ascites and liver failure, consisting…

Management options: Continuous renal replacement therapy

1. When should renal replacement therapy (RRT) be initiated? There are accepted urgent indications for RRT in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and generally include: refractory fluid overload, hyperkalemia >6 mEq/L or rapidly rising potassium levels, signs of uremia,…

Kidney biopsy

1. What are the major clinical uses for a kidney biopsy? A kidney biopsy is performed to help establish a diagnosis and aid in the selection of an appropriate therapy when clinical and laboratory tests are unrevealing. The degree of…

Kidney imaging techniques

1. List the most commonly used imaging modalities for the kidneys. Radiography (plain film, excretory urography [EU], retrograde pyelography, cystography) Ultrasonography (US) Computed tomography (CT) scan Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) Radionuclide imaging Kidney angiography 2.…

Measurement of glomerular filtration rate

1. What is the glomerular filtration rate (GFR)? The production of urine and the removal of waste products by the kidneys begin by filtering blood across the glomerular membrane. Blood enters the glomerulus and then can exit either through the…