T3: Renal Failure

• How is kidney function assessed?


  Assessment of urine: urine output & urinalysis

  Assessment of serum: Urea & electrolytes (Na, K, Cl, urea & creatinine)

  Glomerular Filtration Rate
• What is the main difference between Acute kidney injury (AKI) & chronic kidney disease (CKD)?


  AKI - changes in serum creatinine over days

  CKD - changes in eGFR over months
• What is GFR?


  The quantity of glomerular filtrate formed in all nephrons of both kidneys / min.
• What is the relationship of plasma creatinine to true glomerular filtration rate?


  serum creatinine decreases with high GFR

  
• What are the ways to determine GFR?


  Isotopic methods:

  • Cr-EDTA GFR
  • inulin excretion

  Creatinine clearance