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Question 1
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A gentleman arrives at the renal clinic for review. He has long standing chronic renal failure and is unfortunately suffering from metabolic bone disease. His GP has asked for an explanation of the causes and features of metabolic bone disease.
Which of the following best describes the biochemical changes involved?Your Answer: Phosphate excretion is decreased, parathyroid hormone levels are increased and 1,25-OH vitamin D levels are decreased
Explanation:The patient’s chronic renal failure causes decreased renal hydroxylation of vitamin D which leads to decreased calcium absorption in the gut. Simultaneously, there is also decreased renal excretion of phosphate, and this combination of factors results in increased PTH levels.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 2
Correct
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A 67-year-old male presents to the emergency complaining of frank haematuria. There are no associated symptoms. Which of the following would be the most helpful in pointing towards a diagnosis?
Your Answer: Cystoscopy
Explanation:Diagnostic indications for cystoscopy include the following: evaluation of patients with voiding symptoms (storage or obstructive), gross or microscopic haematuria, urologic fistulas, urethral or bladder diverticula and congenital anomalies in paediatric population.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 3
Correct
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A 3-year-old boy presents with facial puffiness, frothy urine, lethargy and oliguria for two weeks. Urine analysis reveals proteinuria. Which of the following is the most appropriate treatment for this child?
Your Answer: Prednisolone
Explanation:The presentation is suggestive of nephrotic syndrome. A trial of corticosteroids is the first step in treatment of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome. Diuretics are useful in managing symptomatic oedema. Cyclosporin and cyclophosphamide are indicated in frequently relapsing and steroid dependant disease.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 4
Incorrect
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A 30-year-old woman is hypertensive and complains of painless haematuria. Other examination results are unremarkable. What is the most likely diagnosis?
Your Answer: Ca bladder
Correct Answer: Polycystic kidneys
Explanation:Renal ultrasound is utilized to confirm this condition. Although at a younger age, hypertension and haematuria that is not painful is already suggestive to the disease.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 5
Correct
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Following a road traffic accident, a gentleman is brought to A&E. He is found to have oliguria and diagnosed with acute renal tubular necrosis.
What is the most common complication and cause of death in this condition?Your Answer: Infection
Explanation:In patients with acute renal tubular necrosis, infection in the form of gram-negative septicaemia is the most common cause of death, especially while the patient is awaiting spontaneous recovery of their renal function.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 6
Correct
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A 65-year-old gentleman gives a two week history of progressive lethargy and weakness. Eight weeks previously, he was treated for hypertensive heart failure with 120 mg furosemide and 5 mg enalapril daily. His haemoglobin at the time was 12.0, urea 14.2 mmol/l and creatinine 298 μmol/l. His blood pressure in clinic was 148/85 mmHg.
His blood results are shown below:
Hb 10.2g/dl
MCV 89.2 fl
WCC 4.9 x 109/l
Plats 175 x 109/l
Na+ 135
K+ 5.2 mmol/l
Urea 25.2 mmol/l
Creat 600 μmol/l
Assuming that he is not volume overloaded, what would be the most appropriate action?Your Answer: stop the enalapril and furosemide
Explanation:The patient presents with worsened renal condition from the last consultation when he was started on enalapril (an ACE inhibitor) so this medication should be stopped. Because there is also no fluid overload; furosemide, a diuretic, should also be stopped.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 7
Correct
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A 23-year-old pregnant woman presents with glycosuria. What is the most likely mechanism?
Your Answer: Reduced renal reabsorption
Explanation:Throughout pregnancy the tubular reabsorption of glucose is less effective than in the non-pregnant state, this leads to glycosuria.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 8
Correct
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You are reviewing a 70-year-old gentleman who has been suffering from multiple myeloma for the past 3 years. He presents with lethargy, muscle aches and pain in his lower back.
Arterial blood sampling reveals a metabolic acidosis. Serum potassium is 3.1 mmol/l (3.5-4.9), and urine pH is 5.1 (> 5.3).
What is the most likely diagnosis?Your Answer: Renal tubular acidosis-type II
Explanation:This case is most likely RTA type II, due to decreased proximal bicarbonate reabsorption, which leads to metabolic acidosis, hypokalaemia, hyperchloremia, and <6 urine pH .
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 9
Correct
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A 50-year-old male presented with pain in the left lumbar region. His abdominal X-ray revealed stones in his left kidney. Analysis of one of the stones that he passed in the urine showed that it was composed of uric acid. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this type of renal stone?
Your Answer: Thiazide diuretics
Explanation:Like all diuretics, thiazide diuretics decrease the amount of body fluid. This leads to an increase in the concentration of uric acid in the body; hence the chances of forming uric acid stones.
Allopurinol is actually a drug used to treat gout, reducing uric acid levels in the body. Therefore, allopurinol would rather decrease the chances of having uric acid stones.
Primary hyperparathyroidism is not concerned with uric acid stones. It is related to calcium metabolism and hence, calcium stones. -
This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 10
Incorrect
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A 25-year-old woman was admitted to hospital with a 3 day history of feeling generally unwell, with fatigue, arthralgia and pruritus. She had recently finished a 5 day course of antibiotics for a urinary tract infection but there was no other significant past medical history. She had no significant findings on clinical examination except for a widespread erythematous rash.
Investigation results are below:
Haemoglobin (Hb) 12.6 g/dl
White cell count (WCC) 13.0 × 109/l (eosinophilia)
Platelets 390 × 109/l
Creatinine 720 μmol/l
Na+ 135 mmol/l
K+ 5.2 mmol/l
Urea 22.0 mmol/l
Urinalysis Protein ++ blood +
What is the most important investigation to establish the diagnosis?Your Answer: Urine microscopy and culture
Correct Answer: Renal biopsy
Explanation:There is a strong suspicion of drug-induced acute tubulo-interstitial nephritis with the classic triad of symptoms of rash, joint pain and eosinophils in the blood, associated with non-specific symptoms of fever and fatigue. This can be confirmed with renal biopsy showing interstitial oedema with a heavy infiltrate of inflammatory cells and variable tubular necrosis.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 11
Correct
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A 50-year-old gentleman with renal cell carcinoma has a haemoglobin of 19 g/dl. Which investigation will conclusively prove that this patient has secondary polycythaemia?
Your Answer: Erythropoietin level
Explanation:Erythropoietin (EPO) is used to distinguish between primary and secondary polycythaemia. Secondary polycythaemia can be caused by tumours in the kidney that may secrete EPO or EPO-like proteins.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 12
Incorrect
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What is the site of action of antidiuretic hormone?
Your Answer: Proximal convoluted tubule
Correct Answer: Collecting ducts
Explanation:Vasopressin, also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH), regulates the tonicity of body fluids. It is released from the posterior pituitary in response to hypertonicity and promotes water reabsorption in the collecting ducts of the kidneys by the insertion of aquaporin-2 channels.. An incidental consequence of this renal reabsorption of water is concentrated urine and reduced urine volume. In high concentrations may also raise blood pressure by inducing moderate vasoconstriction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 13
Correct
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A 67-year-old female with end-stage renal failure, presented to her doctor with confusion and a flapping tremor. She has not travelled abroad, has not changed her medication, and does not consume alcohol. Which of the following options would explain her symptoms?
Your Answer: Uraemic encephalopathy
Explanation:Uremic encephalopathy is most often associated with a flapping tremor (as observed in this patient) due to the accumulation of urea. A similar kind of ‘flap’ can be observed in decompensated liver disease due to high levels of ammonia, too.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 14
Correct
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A 61-year-old gentleman presents with pain in his right flank and haematuria. A CT scan of the abdomen reveals a large 8 × 8 cm solid mass in the right kidney and a 3 × 3 cm solid mass occupying the upper pole of the left kidney.
What is the most appropriate treatment for this patient?Your Answer: Right radical nephrectomy and left partial nephrectomy
Explanation:This patient presents with the classic triad of renal carcinoma: haematuria, loin pain and a mass in the kidneys. Management will entail right radical nephrectomy because of the 8x8cm solid mass and a left partial nephrectomy of the 3x3cm solid mass.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 15
Correct
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A 38-year-old woman has been reviewed in the hypertension clinic. Abdominal ultrasound scanning reveals that her left kidney is much smaller than her right kidney.
You suspect renal artery stenosis, as her GP noticed a deteriorating serum creatinine concentration within 1 month of starting ACE inhibitor therapy.
What is the most appropriate next investigation?Your Answer: Magnetic resonance angiography
Explanation:MRA is next appropriate management for this case. It is non-invasive and has been shown to correlate with angiographic appearance. Although Renal arteriography is considered gold standard, it is invasive, so a non-invasive option is preferred as first line of investigation in this case.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 16
Correct
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A 66-year-old gentleman is seen in the Emergency Department complaining of muscle weakness and lethargy. Admission bloods show the following:
Na+ 138 mmol/l
K+ 6.6 mmol/l
Bicarbonate 15 mmol/l
Urea 9.2 mmol/l
Creatinine 110 µmol/l
An ECG is done which shows no acute changes.
What is the most appropriate initial treatment to lower the serum potassium level?Your Answer: Insulin/dextrose infusion
Explanation:Insulin/dextrose infusion will increase the activity of the sodium-potassium pump in the cells, which will in turn decrease serum potassium levels.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 17
Correct
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A 23-year-old student commences chemotherapy for B-type acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. She suffers from vomiting, but 36 hours later her condition worsens and her bloods reveal a corrected calcium of 2.0 mmol/l and serum potassium of 6.7 mmol/l.
Which of the following options is the best way to avoid this problem from occurring?Your Answer: Hydration and allopurinol pre-chemotherapy
Explanation:This case is most likely tumour lysis syndrome, often occurring immediately after starting chemotherapy because the tumour cells are killed and their contents are released into the bloodstream. After treating lymphomas or leukaemia, there is a sudden hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphatemia, and hyperkalaemia
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 18
Correct
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A patient is told to consult a pathologist regarding the stone that was found in his urine. The pathologist describes the stone as laminated, with areas of black staining. Urinalysis indicates hypercalciuria. Which is the most likely type of renal calculus?
Your Answer: Calcium oxylate
Explanation:Hypercalciuria is the most common cause of kidney stone disease. It is an identifiable cause and can be primary (or idiopathic) or secondary. Secondary hypercalciuria might be due to hyperparathyroidism (2-3%), high levels of vitamin D, Cushing’s syndrome, sarcoidosis or milk-alkali syndrome. Hypercalciuria can also be idiopathic and is considered the commonest metabolic abnormality in people with stone disease. Factors favouring stone formation are: abnormal urine constituents, infection and stasis. In these cases, investigations fail to reveal any calcium metabolism disorders.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 19
Correct
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In end stage renal disease, deficiency of erythropoietin can lead to which of the following conditions?
Your Answer: Anaemia
Explanation:Erythropoietin is necessary for normal Hb levels. Reduced levels of erythropoietin in renal failure leads to anaemia in these patients.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 20
Correct
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A 40-year-old female patient with a history of rheumatoid arthritis is diagnosed with type 1 renal tubular acidosis. What is the most probable sequela of this condition?
Your Answer: Nephrocalcinosis
Explanation:Distal renal tubular acidosis is due to defective proton secretion from the alpha intercalated cells of the distal tubule caused by dysfunction of the H+/K+ antiporter on the apical membrane. This leads to failure of H+ excretion thereby causing systemic acidosis and potassium depletion. Inability to lower the urine pH below 5.3 in the presence of systemic acidosis is the diagnostic hallmark of type I or distal renal tubular acidosis. Hypercalciuria, hypocitraturia and elevated urinary pH observed in distal renal tubular acidosis can lead to nephrocalcinosis and may cause renal calculi, obstructive uropathy and renal failure necessitating surgical or endoscopic stone extraction.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 21
Correct
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A 30-year-old female presented with sudden onset severe right sided abdominal pain for the past 30 minutes. The pain radiated to the groin. She vomited once. Her abdomen was non tender. Which of the following is the most probable diagnosis?
Your Answer: Ureteric colic
Explanation:Characteristic colicky pain and non tender abdomen is characteristic of ureteric colic. Some patients present with urinary symptoms such as haematuria and dysuria, Vomiting is due to activation of sympathetic nervous system due to pain.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 22
Incorrect
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A 23-year-old man visited the OPD with a complaint of pain in the abdomen and dark urine. His blood pressure was found to be elevated. Which of the following should be done next to reach a diagnosis?
Your Answer: CT
Correct Answer: US
Explanation:Hypertension along with haematuria give an indication of cystic kidneys which can be diagnosed with an ultrasound.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 23
Correct
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Which of the following is most helpful in differentiating chronic from acute renal failure?
Your Answer: Kidney size at ultrasound scan
Explanation:The size of the kidneys on ultrasound would differentiate chronic from acute renal failures. Chronic renal failure is more associated with small-sized kidneys.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 24
Correct
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A 75-year-old man was admitted with urinary dribbling and incontinence. Upon examination, there is a palpable mass up to the umbilicus. His clothes smell of ammonia and he is known to be a chronic alcoholic. What is the next most appropriate step?
Your Answer: Urethral catheter
Explanation:It is obvious in this case that chronic alcohol use has contributed to the patient’s urinary incontinence which requires a urethral catheter. Suprapubic catheters are usually preferred in cases of acute urinary retention while condom catheters are indicated in less severe cases of urinary incontinence. We would administer antibiotics if we suspected a urinary infection causing the urinary incontinence, but in this case the cause is obvious.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 25
Correct
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Which is the most severe form among the following?
Your Answer: Class IV: diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis
Explanation:The classes refer to the WHO classification of glomerulonephritis in SLE patients.
class I: normal kidney
class II: mesangial glomerulonephritis
class III: focal (and segmental) proliferative glomerulonephritis
class IV: diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis
class V: diffuse membranous glomerulonephritis
class VI: sclerosing glomerulonephritisClass IV: diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis is the most common and the most severe form, where more than 50% of the glomeruli are involved.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 26
Incorrect
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A 30-year-old previously well male was found to have a blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg. Investigations revealed microalbuminuria. FBS and HbA1c were normal. Which of the following is the most appropriate management for this patient?
Your Answer: Start ACE inhibitor
Correct Answer: Renal scan
Explanation:A renal scan is important in the diagnosis of early renal damage, acute or chronic nephropathies and nephrovascular disease. Renal resistive index (RRI) which is measured by Doppler sonography, is proved to be a marker of renal disease onset and progression. Young hypertension with microalbuminuria is an indication for a renal scan to identify the possible aetiology.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 27
Correct
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A 16-year-old boy suffers recurrent episodes of haematuria following a flu-like illness. He is otherwise well. Physical examination is normal. Urinalysis reveals no proteinuria, blood ++, and 2-3 white blood cells/mm3.
What is the most probable diagnosis?Your Answer: IgA nephropathy
Explanation:IgA nephropathy’s characteristic presentation is haematuria following a non-specific upper respiratory infection as was evident in this case. IgA nephropathy also usually occurs in children and young males, like this patient.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 28
Correct
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A 61-year-old gentleman presents with heart failure and pedal oedema. The oedema occurs due to:
Your Answer: Increased release of renin
Explanation:The oedema is an effect of the a decreased cardiac output that increases renin release which leads to vasoconstriction and sodium and water retention.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 29
Incorrect
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A 58-year-old lady was admitted to hospital with increasing thirst and generalised abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with breast carcinoma three years previously and treated with a radical mastectomy.
Investigations showed:
Serum corrected calcium 3.5 mmol/L (NR 2.2-2.6)
Serum alkaline phosphatase 1100 IU/L
Her serum calcium was still elevated following 4 litres of 0.9% saline intravenous infusion.
Which of the following is the most appropriate next step?Your Answer: Intravenous 0.9% saline infusion over four hours
Correct Answer: Pamidronate 60 mg intravenously
Explanation:This case has hypercalcaemia most likely associated with the bony metastases from her pre-existing breast carcinoma. The most appropriate next step is to give Pamidronate 60mg intravenously, a bisphosphonate, to immediately inhibit bone resorption and formation.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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Question 30
Correct
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A 22-year-old gentleman presents to A&E for the third time with recurrent urinary stones. There appear to be no predisposing factors, and he is otherwise well; urine culture is unremarkable. The urine stones turn out to be cystine stones.
What is the most likely diagnosis in this case?Your Answer: Cystinuria
Explanation:Cystinuria is strongly suspected because of the recurrent passing of cystine stones and otherwise non-remarkable medical history of this young adult patient. Like Cystinuria, all the conditions listed are also inherited disorders, however, the other differentials usually present in the early years of childhood, usually with failure to thrive.
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This question is part of the following fields:
- Renal System
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SESSION STATS - PERFORMANCE PER SPECIALTY
