Nephrology and Renal Disorders Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering renal anatomy, physiological functions, diagnostic markers, and major kidney pathologies including pyelonephritis, glomerular diseases, and renal cancers.

Nephron

The filtering unit of the kidney, with approximately 1 million present to remove toxins from the blood.

Normal Urine Output

A fluid excretion rate typically between $25$ to $50\,ml$ per hour, or a minimum of $0.5\,ml/kg/h$.

Renin-angiotensin system

The hormonal system through which the kidney controls systemic blood pressure.

Erythropoietin

A hormone produced by the kidneys that travels to the bone marrow to drive red blood cell production in response to low oxygen.

Pyelonephritis

A bladder infection that climbs upward into the kidney, causing inflammation, bacterial infection, and potential scarring of nephrons.

Flank Pain

Pain located in the kidney area, often identified by tenderness in the costovertebral angle (CVA).

Urosepsis

A systemic inflammatory response triggered when a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) spreads into the bloodstream.

Leukocyte Esterase and Nitrites

Markers found in a urinalysis that provide a quick bedside clue for the presence of a urinary tract infection.

C-reactive protein (CRP) and ESR

General laboratory inflammatory markers that indicate systemic infection or inflammation when elevated.

KUB

A quick X-ray imaging study of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder used to check for stones or obstructions.

Sepsis Bundle

An emergency protocol requiring blood cultures, lactic acid levels, and broad-spectrum antibiotics (like Rocephin or Vancomycin) within 1 hour.

Glomerulonephritis (GN)

Inflammation of the glomerulus (filtrate unit); acute cases often follow a strep throat infection, while chronic cases progress to end-stage kidney disease.

Fixed Urine Specific Gravity

A hallmark sign of chronic kidney disease where the urine stays at approximately $1.01$ regardless of fluid intake because the kidneys cannot concentrate or dilute urine.

Nephrotic Syndrome

A condition where glomerular filter holes are too large, leading to massive proteinuria ($> 3.5\,g$ in 24 hours), low serum albumin, and periorbital edema.

Nephrosclerosis

Thickening and narrowing of kidney blood vessels, similar to arteriosclerosis, often driven by hypertension and diabetes.

APOL1 gene variant

A genetic variant carried by approximately $13\%$ of black Americans that increases the lifetime risk of end-stage renal disease.

Hydronephrosis

The dilation and filling of the renal pelvis with urine due to an upward pressure caused by an obstruction like a stone.

Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)

A genetic condition characterized by the overproduction of fluid-filled cysts that compress functional nephrons and blood vessels, leading to hypertension and kidney failure.

Renal Artery Stenosis (RAS)

Narrowing of the renal artery by atherosclerotic plaque, leading to chronic under-perfusion and hard-to-control renovascular hypertension.

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

The most common kidney cancer, which may present with paraneoplastic syndromes like anemia or erythrocytosis and is often treated with a nephrectomy.

Adrenal Insufficiency

A potential post-operative complication of nephrectomy that causes low blood pressure, dropping urine output, and large urine sodium loss.

Oliguria

A clinical term for reduced urine output, often signaling reduced blood flow to the kidneys or an acute kidney injury.