Renal and Metabolic Diseases — Comprehensive Notes (Ch 1–6)

Vocabulary flashcards covering major renal and metabolic disease concepts from Unit 1 notes.

Glomerular disease

Any disease that damages the glomeruli in the nephron; can be immune-mediated, metabolic, hereditary, or systemic in origin and disrupts filtration.

Glomerulonephritis

Inflammation of the glomeruli often immune-mediated; can be acute or chronic and leads to changes in urine and filtration.

Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (acute APSGN)

Acute GN after a group A Streptococcus infection; immune complexes deposit in glomeruli; ASO titer rises; common in children and is immune-mediated.

Immune complexes

Antigen–antibody complexes that can trap in the glomeruli and trigger inflammation and tissue damage.

Antibodies against glomerular tissue

Antibodies that directly target glomerular components, contributing to glomerular injury.

Glomerular filtration barrier (three layers)

Endothelium, glomerular basement membrane, and podocyte slit diaphragms that together filter blood and prevent large proteins/cells from passing into filtrate.

Bowman space

The space inside Bowman's capsule where filtrate collects before entering the renal tubules.

Proteinuria

Presence of excess protein in urine due to increased glomerular permeability or filtration barrier damage.

Hematuria

Presence of red blood cells in urine, indicating glomerular or urinary tract pathology.

Oliguria

Significant decrease in urine output (less than about 400 mL per day in many contexts).

Azotemia

Elevated nitrogenous waste products (urea, creatinine, ammonia, uric acid) in blood due to reduced glomerular filtration.

Edema

Fluid accumulation in extracellular spaces; common in nephrotic and other kidney diseases.

Hypertension

High blood pressure often accompanying renal diseases, including glomerular disorders.

Nephritic syndrome

Glomerular syndrome with hematuria, oliguria, and azotemia; variable proteinuria; may involve salt and water retention.

Nephrotic syndrome

A syndrome of heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, edema, and lipiduria due to glomerular disease.

Hyalinization

Deposition of amorphous extracellular material in the glomerulus leading to thickening and potential sclerosis; often marks irreversible damage.

Sclerosis

Hardening and scarring of glomeruli; a sign of chronic or advanced glomerular injury.

Primary glomerular disease

Glomerular damage that originates in the kidney itself, not as a result of systemic disease.

Secondary glomerular disease

Glomerular damage caused by a systemic disease (e.g., SLE, diabetes, amyloidosis) affecting the kidneys.

Fabry disease

Hereditary lysosomal storage disorder with lipid buildup in vessel walls; can lead to glomerular damage.

Diabetic nephropathy (diabetes mellitus)

Glomerular damage from chronic hyperglycemia; basement membrane thickening, mesangial expansion, and proteinuria.

Amyloidosis

Systemic deposition of amyloid proteins, including in the kidneys, causing nephrotic-range proteinuria and renal dysfunction.

Nephrotic syndrome components

Heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, edema, lipiduria, and fatty casts in urine.

Acute tubular necrosis (ATN)

Death of renal tubular epithelial cells; ischemic (reduced blood flow) or toxic (nephrotoxins) causes.

Ischemic ATN

ATN due to inadequate renal perfusion (e.g., sepsis, shock, trauma).

Toxic ATN

ATN caused by nephrotoxins (drugs, contrast agents, myoglobin, hemoglobin, uric acid, light chains).

Fanconi syndrome

Generalized proximal tubular dysfunction causing loss of amino acids, glucose, bicarbonate, phosphate, and others in urine.

Cystinosis

Hereditary lysosomal storage disease with cystine accumulation; causes renal tubular dysfunction and other organ issues.

Cystinuria

Hereditary defect causing excess cystine in urine with crystal formation; aminoaciduria in urine.

Renal glycosuria

Glucosuria with normal blood glucose due to renal tubular reabsorption defect.

Renal phosphaturia

Inability of the distal tubule to reabsorb inorganic phosphate, leading to phosphate loss in urine.

Renal tubular acidosis

Tubular dysfunction that impairs H+ secretion or bicarbonate handling, causing metabolic acidosis with a urine pH < 5.5.

Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN)

Inflammation of the renal interstitium, often due to drugs or rejection; eosinophils may be present in urine; leukocyte esterase positive.

Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Infection of the urinary tract; can be lower (cystitis) or upper (pyelonephritis); leukocyturia and bacteria common.

Cystitis

Inflammation of the bladder (lower UTI); dysuria, frequency, urgency; usually no casts on UA.

Pyelonephritis

Kidney infection (upper UTI) often from ascending infection or hematogenous spread; UA may show protein, blood, nitrites, leukocyte esterase; WBCs and bacteria in urine.

Chronic pyelonephritis

Recurrent or persistent renal infection/inflammation leading to permanent kidney damage; often diagnosed with imaging such as CT; can progress to ESRD.

Pyridium (phenazopyridine)

Analgesic for urinary symptoms; turns urine orange; not an antibiotic; can affect dipstick interpretation.

ASO titer

Anti-streptolysin O antibodies; elevated in recent streptococcal infection and supports a diagnosis like APSGN.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD)

Irreversible loss of kidney function requiring dialysis or transplantation; can be fatal without treatment.

Renal vascular disease

Decreased renal blood flow leading to kidney dysfunction; causes include shock, burns, hemolysis, and systemic failure.