Intrarenal Disorders - Chapter 27

A collection of flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to intrarenal disorders and renal function tests.

Intrarenal Disorders

Disorders that occur within the kidney itself, affecting renal function.

Prerenal Factors

Causes of renal dysfunction related to blood supply before it reaches the kidneys.

Intrinsic Renal Factors

Causes of renal dysfunction that originate within the kidney structures themselves.

Postrenal Factors

Causes of renal dysfunction due to obstructions in the collecting system (ureter, bladder, urethra).

Creatinine Clearance Test

A test used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) based on the clearance of creatinine from plasma.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

The rate at which blood is filtered through the glomeruli, an indicator of kidney function.

Urinalysis

A test analyzing urine to assess health or diagnose diseases based on physical, chemical, and microscopic properties.

Hematuria

The presence of blood in urine, indicating possible glomerular or urinary tract pathologies.

Proteinuria

The presence of excess protein in urine, often indicative of kidney damage.

Nephrotic Syndrome

A kidney disorder characterized by high proteinuria, edema, hypoalbuminemia, and hyperlipidemia.

Glomerulonephritis

An inflammation of the glomeruli, often resulting from immunologic abnormalities or infections.

Urine Osmolality

A test measuring the concentration of solutes in urine, reflecting the kidney's ability to concentrate or dilute urine.

Urinary Specific Gravity

A measure of urine concentration, indicating kidney concentrating ability.

Renal Tubular Acidosis

A disorder characterized by the kidney's inability to properly acidify the urine, leading to acid-base imbalances.

Acute Renal Failure

A rapid decline in kidney function, often reversible if treated promptly.

Chronic Renal Failure

A gradual loss of kidney function over time, often irreversible.

Aminoaciduria

The presence of amino acids in urine, indicating tubular reabsorption issues.

Oliguria

A decreased production of urine, often associated with renal dysfunction.

Edema

Swelling caused by excess fluid accumulation in body tissues, commonly seen in renal disorders.

Renal Agenesis

A congenital condition where one or both kidneys fail to develop; bilateral is fatal, unilateral leads to compensatory hypertrophy.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

A genetic disorder where multiple expanding cysts disrupt urine flow and lead to renal failure; Autosomal recessive = childhood onset; Autosomal dominant = adult onset.

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

The most common kidney cancer; Often asymptomatic until late; Symptoms include hematuria, flank pain, and a palpable mass; Resistant to radiation/chemo.

Wilms Tumor (Nephroblastoma)

Most common kidney cancer in children; Treated with nephrectomy, chemo, and radiation; High cure rate.

Acute Pyelonephritis

Infection of renal pelvis + parenchyma; Causes fever, chills, nausea, costovertebral angle tenderness, and WBC casts.

Chronic Pyelonephritis

Long-standing infection due to reflux or obstruction — scarring, fibrosis, loss of nephrons; May progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Urinary Tract Obstruction

Any blockage (stone, tumor, stricture) causing urine stasis, infection risk, and structural damage.

Hydronephrosis

Dilation of renal pelvis due to obstruction — increased intrarenal pressure — low GFR — potential ischemia.

Renal Calculi (Kidney Stones)

Stones made of calcium oxalate (most common), uric acid, struvite, or cystine; can cause severe colicky flank pain radiating to groin.

Renal Colic

Severe flank pain caused by stone movement at the ureteropelvic junction; Often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis.

Nephritic Syndrome

Glomerular inflammation causing hematuria, RBC casts, mild proteinuria, edema, and hypertension.

Acute Glomerulonephritis

Immune-mediated inflammation (often post-strep); Presents with hematuria, proteinuria, edema, decreased GFR, increased BUN/Creatinine ratio.

Crescentic (Rapidly Progressive) Glomerulonephritis)

Severe form with crescent-shaped lesions in Bowman’s space; rapid loss of renal function.

Chronic Glomerulonephritis

Persistent proteinuria and hematuria with gradual decline in renal function leading to CKD.

RBS Casts

Indicate glomerular bleeding; Classic for glomerulonephritis.

WBC Casts

Indicate infection of the kidney, classic for pyelonephritis (not cystitis).

Struvite Stones

Stones associated with urease-producing bacteria — from large “staghorn” calculi.

Cystine Stones

Rare stones caused by a genetic defect in cystine reabsorption.

Postrenal Acute Renal Failure

Obstruction-related — leads to hydronephrosis — can progress to intrarenal failure if prolonged.