Integrated Pharmacotherapy I: Fluid, Electrolytes & Hematology

Vocabulary flashcards covering fluid balance, electrolyte homeostasis, renal function, and clinical markers based on lecture notes.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of the internal environment in a relative constant state compatible with life, maintaining parameters like blood $pH$ of $7.4$ and hematocrit of $45\%$.

Hypovolemia

A volume disorder characterized by reduced extracellular fluid (ECF) volume, often caused by hemorrhage, vomiting, diarrhea, or burns.

Hypervolemia

A volume disorder characterized by increased ECF volume, sometimes called edema, often caused by renal failure or heart failure.

Intracellular fluid (ICF)

The fluid compartment that constitutes approximately $2/3$ of the total body water.

Extracellular fluid (ECF)

The fluid compartment consisting of plasma, interstitial fluid, lymph, and transcellular fluid.

Insensible water loss

Water loss que occurs through the skin and exhalation, totaling roughly $0.9\,L/day$.

Hydrostatic pressure

The capillary blood pressure that pushes fluid out of the vessels and into the tissue.

Oncotic pressure

Also called colloid osmotic pressure, it is generated by plasma proteins (mainly albumin) to pull fluid into the vasculature.

Anuria

A quantitative change in diuresis where urine production is less than $200\,ml$.

Polyuria

The production of an abnormally large volume of urine, typically greater than $2.5\,L$ or $3\,L$ over $24$ hours in adults.

Vasopressin (AVP/ADH)

A hormone that stimulates the insertion of aquaporin water pores into the apical membrane of the collecting duct to increase renal water reabsorption.

CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator)

A chloride channel protein that actively pumps $Cl^-$ ions out of epithelial cells into the lumen, regulating intestinal water secretion.

Albumin

The most abundant plasma protein, responsible for generating oncotic pressure, with normal levels between $3.5-5.0\,g/dL$.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)

A measure of renal function calculated as $GFR = \frac{U_{in} \times \frac{dV}{dt}}{P_{in}}$, where $U_{in}$ and $P_{in}$ are urinary and plasma concentrations of a marker like inulin.

BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen)

A test measuring the amount of urea nitrogen in the blood, with a normal range of $6$ to $24\,mg/dL$.

Hypotonic Dehydration

A state where $Na^+$ loss is greater than water loss, causing plasma osmolarity to decrease and cells to swell.

Hypertonic Dehydration

A state where water loss is greater than $Na^+$ loss, causing plasma osmolarity to increase and cells to shrink.

Renin and Erythropoietin (EPO)

Substances produced by the kidney involved in the regulation of blood pressure and stimulation of red blood cell production, respectively.

Loop Diuretics

Pharmacological agents such as Furosemide or Torsemide that increase diuresis by acting on specific sites in the nephron.

Secretory Diarrhea mechanism

Condition where bacterial toxins (e.g., Cholera toxin) lock CFTR in an open state, leading to massive, uncontrolled $Cl^-$ and water secretion into the gut lumen.