NEPHROLOGY

 

The Approach to Acute Renal Failure

By differential diagnosis:

·         Pre-renal

-Hx:  Decreased po intake, over-diuresis, cardiomyopathy (decreased forward flow), sepsis, hemorrhage, emesis, diarrhea. Increased NSAID use, ACE-I, etc.

-Dx:  BUN/Crt ratio >20, dark, concentrated urine on U/A (perhaps with hyaline casts), dry on physical exam.  Calculate FeNa, particularly if oliguric.  If FeNa <1% suspect pre-renal. (Difficult to interpret FeNa if patient is on diuretics)

-Tx:  IV fluids, and stop offending agents, it. NSAIDS and ACE Inh.  May need vasopressors in cardiomyopaths.

 

·         Intrinsic renal (vascular, glomerular, interstitial—most common are ATN and AIN)

-Hx:  Varies---may include new medication, recent contrast exposure, or h/o DM, HTN, rheumatic ds (ie Lupus), HIV etc, prolonged sedentary state (ie. in rhabdomyolysis)..

-Dx:  Renal ultrasound (may show “medical renal ds” or may have asymmetric kidneys), FeNa (will be >1% in ATN), HIV Ab, C3/C4, RPR, ANA, ANCA, SPEP/UPEP, Hep B serologies, HCV Ab, Urine Eosinophils (seen in AIN).  Examine urine sediment for casts (can use Housestaff lab on Nelson 4).

-Tx:  Stop offending agents (meds), treat underlying disease.  Treat low bicarb with Bicitra or PO NaBicarb.  Treat elevated Phos with Renagel with each meal.  Treat low Calcium (correct for Albumin) with Calcium Carbonate.

-Indications for Emergent Dialysis: Severe Acidemia, Electrolyte abnormalities not able to be controlled by other measures (kayexalate, etc), intoxications, volume overload with hemodynamic or respiratory compromise, pericardial friction rub, symptomatic uremia  (ie. Mental status change).

-When to Consult Renal team??:  Consult Renal if emergent dialysis thought to be necessary or if biopsy thought to be required in order to make diagnosis.  It’s very helpful to the Renal team if you have all the aforementioned labs ordered/pending and meds started before you consult them.

 

·         Post-renal (BPH, prostate CA, pelvic mass, bladder mass or clot, etc.)

-Hx:  Oliguria or anuria with elevated Crt and sensation of bladder fullness.

-Dx:  Attempt to pass a Foley catheter.  May need to compress the bladder to remove all the urine if the bladder is quite distended.  Renal Ultrasound.

-Tx:  If not able to get urinary flow after foley is passed, and ultrasound shows obstruction, should consult Urology. They will definitely require that you have attempted a foley catheter before they will come to see the patient.  Patient may require further medical or sometimes surgical management.

 

The Approach to ACID-BASE Disorders

 

·         Respiratory alkalosis: CNS disorders, hypoxia, pulmonary receptor stimulation (asthma, pneumonia, pulmonary edema, PE), anxiety, drugs (ASA, theo), liver failure, sepsis, recovery phase of met acidosis

Compensation: Acute: HCO3 decreases 2.0 for every 10mmHg change, in pCO2; Chronic: HCO3 decreases 4-5 for every 10mmHg change in pCO2

Tx:  Treat the underlying condition (as noted above).

·         Respiratory acidosis: respiratory center inhibition (opiates, myxedema, O2 in CO2 retainer), neuromuscular disorder (Guillain–Barré, myasthenia gravis, botulism, hypokalemia), chest wall disorder, airway obstruction, acute and chronic lung disease

Compensation:  Acute: HCO3 increases 1.0 for every 10mmHg change in pCO2; Chronic:  HCO3 increases 3-3.5 for every 10 mmHg change in pCO2

Tx:  Treat underlying condition.  Often requires Non-invasive ventilation (ie. BiPAP or CPAP) or Intubation. 

·         Metabolic alkalosis:

A. Chloride–responsive (urine Cl– <10): vomiting, NG drainage, diuretics, post–hypercapneic, cystic fibrosis, villous adenoma, congenital chloride diarrhea

B. Chloride–resistant (urine Cl– >20): primary aldosteronism, secondary aldosteronism (CHF, cirrhosis & ascites, Cushing’s, Bartter’s), congenital adrenal hyperplasia, Liddle’s, licorice

C. Miscellaneous: poorly resorbed anion (PCN, carbenicillin), refeeding alkalosis, administration of alkali (e.g. antacids, overshoot from Rx of acidosis, massive transfusions with citrate anticoagulant, milk alkali)

Compensation: Metabolic alkalosis: pCO2 increases 0.6-0.7 for each mmol/L change in HCO3

Tx:  Treat underlying condition.  Chloride responsive type is often responsive to IV fluids.

·         Metabolic acidosis (gap):

Methanol, Uremia, Diabetic ketoacidosis/starvation/EtOH ketoacidosis, Paraldehyde, INH, iron toxicity, Lactic acidosis, Ethylene glycol, Rhabdomyolysis, Salicylates

 

  1. Adjust for hypoalbuminemia: the AG NL range (12 +/- 2) decreases (see “Formulas”)
  2. A modest increase in AG is often seen with volume contraction metabolic alkalosis.
  3. Calculate the osmolar gap to narrow the DDx to methanol, ethylene glycol, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol.

D.    If an AG is present, calculate the gap-gap (delta-gap) = patient’s anion gap – 12 (normal anion gap). Add this to the measured HCO3. If the result is >30, then an additional metabolic alkalosis exists. If the result is <23, then an additional non-gap metabolic acidosis exists.

 

DDx of low AG: hypoalbuminemia, halide (Br-, I-) intoxication, severe hyperlipidemia, multiple myeloma (via hyperparaproteinemia).

 

Compensation:  pCO2 decreases 1.0-1.3 for each mmol/L change in HCO3, or pCO2 = last two digits of pH

Tx:  Treat underlying condition.  Discontinue the offending agent.May require dialysis in some severe cases.

 

·         Metabolic acidosis (nongap)

To differentiate between renal & extra-renal: calculate the urine anion gap = UNa + UK – UCl. A negative UAG implies the kidney is appropriately compensating for acidosis by secreting NH4+ (the unmeasured cation), implying a nonrenal cause. A high UAG implies urinary loss of unmeasured anion (RTA).

 

Renal causes (RTAs):

                                                                                   

RTA          Urine pH         location        defect                       Serum K     Urine AG
Type I       <5.5              distal        inadequate distal H+     low/nl         + 

Type II     varies             proximal            HCO3 reabs            low/nl        varies     

Type IV    <5.5             distal      low aldo                  high             +

 

Type I RTA causes: drugs (ampho, Li), chronic pyelonephritis, obstructive uropathy, nephrocalcinosis, autoimmune (SLE, Sjogren’s, thyroiditis, cryoglobulinemia, chronic active hepatitis, PBC), amyloidosis, myeloma.  Tx: NaBicarb 1-3 mEq/kg/d

 

Type II RTA causes: primary (hereditary), myeloma, amyloidosis, Sjogren’s, PNH, acetazolamide, hyperglobulinemia, heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Hg, Cu, others). Tx:  NaBicarb 10-15 mEq/kg/d

 

Type IV RTA causes: Addison’s dz, decreased aldo synthesis heparin or LMWH, ACEI, ARB, CSA, critically ill patients, DM (most common), NSAIDs, HIV, Aldo antagonists (spironolactone, TMP, pentamidine, amiloride), obstructive uropathy, sickle cell disease, amyloidosis, AIN.

Tx: NaBicarb 1-3 mEq/kg/d (or correct hyperkalemia)

 

Nonrenal causes of Non-gap Acidosis:

Bicarb wasting: GI (diarrhea, ileus, fistula, villous adenoma), urinary tract diversions (ureterosigmoidostomy, ileal conduit), administration of chloride-containing acid (HCl, TPN, cholestyramine), posthypercapnia (transient)

 

 

Treatment of Electrolyte Disorders

- Hypokalemia: keep K> or = 4.0. 10mEq KCL po/iv increases serum K by 0.1. Replete IV or oral; 80 mEq max at a time per pharmacy. IV K burns when infused; oral is a very large pill or a bad tasting powder. Can request small 10 mEq pills from pharmacy.  Replete Mg to 2.0 when K is low.

- Hyperkalemia: For K>5.0, kayexalate 15-30gm po x1, second dose if no BM in 4hrs. For K>6.0, call lab to r/o hemolysis. Check EKG. Temporize with D50 1amp IV x1, reg insulin 10u IV x1 (cellular shift) and CaGluconate 1 amp IV x1 (cardioprotective), and albuterol MDI/neb (cellular shift, via B agonism). Give Kayexalate, recheck potassium.

- Magnesium: keep Mg> or = 2.0; supposedly reduces ectopy. MgSO4 4gm IV x1 if <1.4; 6-8gm if <1.0. MgOxide good for chronic outpt repletion, although all PO Mag formulations act as laxatives.

- Calcium: keep Ca>8.5 (corrected for Albumin) or iCa>1.0. CaGluconate 1-2amp IV; recheck. Also consider Ca carbonate 1300mg po bid to tid. Ca x PO4 should be <70 to decrease risk of precipitation.

- Phosphate: PO4=1.5-1.9 give 0.125mmol/kg IVPB or Phospho-soda 5ml po bid-tid. PO4 1.0-1.4 give 0.25mmol/kg IVPB. PO4<1.0 give 0.375-0.5 mmol/kg; max 40mmol.   For most patients, 20 mmol of IV Phos will be sufficient to start with. PO formulations also available as Neutra Phos and K Phos.  Can give 250 mg po tid x 3-6 doses.  Avoid giving Phos in severe hypocalcemia.  Low PO4 impairs respiratory fxn.  In DKA replete only if < 1.