What are the clinical findings of CKD patients? This article is primarily for health professionals. Often, in mild-moderate CKD (CKD1-2 and CKD3A), there is nothing to find. In 0ther words, the patient is normal. However, at later stages, there are typical clinical findings in CKD. General Uraemic foetor: ammonia-like smell of the breath. This […]
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Contrast nephropathy, also known as contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) or contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI), is a medical condition characterised by a rapid decline in kidney function that occurs shortly after the administration of a intravenous (IV) dye called ‘contrast media’. This is used in x-ray procedures like a computed tomogram (CT) scan, or an angiogram
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What is a nuclear medicine renal (kidney) scan? In a nuclear medicine renal scan (or ‘renogram’), pictures are taken of radioactive substances going into the kidneys from the bloodstream, inside the kidneys, and into the bladder through the ureters (that join the kidneys to the bladder). A nuclear medicine renal scan uses radiopharmaceuticals (radioactive substances)
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Kidney blood tests – what’s normal and abnormal? Keep track of your kidney data with PKB Kidney doctors love blood tests. Full stop. Why? It is because it is impossible for them to judge the function of the kidneys solely by asking you questions (doctors call this the ‘history’) and physical examination. So, what is
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What is proteinuria (protein in urine)? A small amount of protein in the urine is normal. But higher levels of protein in urine (proteinuria) are almost always a sign of kidney disease (CKD, or AKI). The kidneys are the bodys’ dustmen. They remove waste (from food), water and salts from the blood. Protein is normally
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What is a kidney (renal) biopsy? A kidney biopsy is an important but invasive procedure with pros and cons, which we will now go through. Its normal to be a little anxious But what is it? It’s a procedure to take a sample of kidney tissue, about the size of a small pin, which is
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Investigations for CKD Keep track of your kidney data with PKB Key Points CKD is not a diagnosis. It is a syndrome with 7 groups of causes. Using the investigations below, you need to ascertain the underlying cause as this guides treatment Blood creatinine level – is the most important test. It is put into
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What are the 5 stages of CKD? Keep track of your kidney data with PKB Key Points There are 5 stages (grades) of CKD, from CKD1 (risk factor) to CKD5 (kidney failure) CKD stage is based on a blood test called eGFR – the higher the eGFR value, the lower the grade of CKD, the better
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