Abdominal Key

Overview Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common condition in kidney specialist practice with significant complications. It is caused by a wide range of primary (idiopathic) and secondary glomerular diseases. Patients…

Overview Indications to commence dialysis are: intractable hyperkalaemia; acidosis; uraemic symptoms (nausea, pruritus, malaise); therapy-resistant fluid overload; chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage 5. There is considerable variation of the level…

Overview Around 25% of patients start dialysis without adequate preparation within the United Kingdom. This is often due to a failure to integrate care, such as in patients with diabetes….

Overview Renal artery stenosis (RAS) may present as drug-resistant hypertension, acute kidney injury (especially with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use), chronic renal impairment or…

Overview Urinary protein excretion of <150 mg/day is normal (∼30 mg of this is albumin and about 70–100 mg is Tamm-Horsfall (muco)protein, derived from the proximal renal tubule). Protein excretion can rise transiently…

Overview Patients need to be given timely information about prognosis and quality of life, whether they are on dialysis, choose to stop or even choose not to start dialysis in…

Overview Only a small proportion of patients attending general nephrology clinics will eventually progress to stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD). Up to 25% of patients starting renal replacement therapy…

Overview Dysuria is usually urinary tract infection-related, but it can be due to urethritis (e.g. chlamydia, herpes) or vaginitis (e.g. Trichomonas spp). Asymptomatic bacteriuria does not generally need treatment except…