A 45 year female with SOB and anasarca

I've been given these three cases data here 

https://alekyatummala.blogspot.com/2020/09/45-yr-female-with-anasarca.html?m=1
 

 This may develop my competency in

a) reading and comprehending clinical data related to the case including history, clinical findings, investigations

b) come up with a diagnosis such as:

1) Anatomical location of the root cause

2) Physiological functional disability

3) Biochemical abnormalities that could be a root cause at a molecular level

4) Pathology that could reflect the root cause at a cellular level

c) a treatment plan for each of these patients of paraparesis that can have a pharmacological and non pharmacological component.

And

d) learning the scientific basis of diagnostic and therapeutic approach in terms of past collective experiences and experiments (aka evidence based medicine)

The first step to developing these competencies after reading and comprehending each patient data will be to

a) create a problem list for each patient in order of the patient's perceived priority

b) Discuss the root causes for the problem as described above in terms of anatomy, biochemistry and pathology, microbiology

and

c) discuss possible solutions to tackle these root causes from upstream (soil from which the roots begin) or downstream (to treating the stem and branches aka palliation) in terms of pharmacological (medicinal) and non pharmacological (such as prosthetics, implants) both in historical terms (past dominant treatments for the same cause and it's current evolution) as well as recent advances ( ongoing trials and innovative approaches even at a hypothetical stage).

1) What is your complete anatomic and etiologic diagnosis from the data available in the patient's online record linked above? (ignore the provisional diagnosis on admission mentioned in the case report)

 

Anatomic diagnosis: acute kidney injury at glomerulus, mesangial thickning could be the pathoanatomic change with nodular sclerosis AKA kimmelstein Winston lesions

Etiologic diagnosis: diabetic nephropathy

 

2) What are the reasons for her:

Azotemia 

reduced GFR results in reduced excretion of nitrogenous wastes leading to azothemia

Anemia 

Erythropoietin defeciency

Hypoalbuminemia 

Increased glomerular capillary permeability due to

Acidosis 

reduction in GFR leads to reduced H+, and other organic acids excretion leading to acidosis. metabolic acidosis increased anion gap

 

3) What was the rationale for her treatment plan detailed day wise in the record? 

Day 1

HCO3 was given to treat acidosis - target HCO3 22meq/l

potassium was given to counteract hypookalemia 

 Day 2

insulin was given to correct hyperglycemia

pantoprazole was given to prevent curling ulcer

Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid, iron was given to reat anaemia

furocemide was given to reuce fluid overload (evidenced by pulmonary edema)

 Day 3

furcemide - reduce fluid overload

spirinolactone - reduce potasium loss from furocemide

Vitamin B9 or Folic Acid, iron was given to reat anaemia

nicardipine -  to achieve target BP of 130/80

eruthropoietin to treart underlying cause of anaemia

calcium and vitamin d3 - reuce renal osteodystrophy

tab sodium bicarbonate - reduce/prevent metabolic acidosis

potassium was given to counteract hypookalemia 

renal replacement therapy

Day 5

lactulose to reduce encephalopathy

protien to counteract protien loss

ceftrioxone to prevent infection as a risk of renal replacement therapy

 

Particularly mention rationale and  efficacy for some of the drugs administered such as oral and iv bicarbonate? When is iv or oral bicarbonate indicated and why is it contraindicated in certain situations? 

 

Metabolic acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease: Oral (off-label): Note: KDIGO guidelines suggest oral replacement when plasma HCO₃^- concentrations are <22 mEq/L (KDIGO 2013).

Initial: 15.4 to 23.1 mEq/day in divided doses (eg, 650 mg tablet 2 to 3 times daily); titrate to normal serum bicarbonate concentrations (eg, 23 to 29 mEq/L) or up to 5850 mg/day; baking soda may be used as an alternative in patients who cannot take tablets (Chen 2014; KDIGO 2013; Kovesdy 2009; Raphael 2016). Avoid exceeding serum bicarbonate concentrations >32 mEq/L since this has been associated with increased mortality in patients with CKD (Navaneethan 2011).

https://www.uptodate.com/contents/sodium-bicarbonate-drug-information?topicRef=127552&source=see_link

https://reference.medscape.com/drug/sodium-bicarbonate-342305

 

4) What was the indication for dialysing her and what was the crucial factor that led to the decision to dialyze her on the third day of admission? 

"Intractable dependent oedema resistant to diuretics

Pulmonary oedema 

Severe hypertension

Potassium resistant to dietary control and medical intervention 

Uraemic syndrome including anorexia, nausea, lethargy etc. (generally not until eGFR < 10 mL/min/1.73 m2) 

Chronic acidosis resistant to bicarbonate therapy 

Intractable anaemia despite erythropoietin and iron 

Hyperphosphataemia despite binders"

Reference: davidson 23rd edition table 15.35

 

Indication in this case  

severe shortness of breath - pulmonary edema

metabolic acidosis and refractory anuria

 

5) What are the other factors other than diabetes and hypertension that led to her current condition? 

Failure of secondary prevention that is failure to seak medical help in eary stage of disease

 

6) What are the expected outcomes in this patient? Compare the outcomes of similar patients globally and share your summary with reference links. 

kaplan - Meier survival rate of diabetic CKD is 37%, 

5year survival is 40%

diabetes, low serum albumin, low socioeconomic status of this patient predict poor prognosis

FGF-23 levels is a novel marker for mortality

 

7) How and when would you evaluate her further for cardio renal HFpEF and what are the mechanisms of HFpEF in diabetic renal failure patients?

"The complications of CKD result in increased cardiac workload due to hypertension, volume overload, and anemia. Patients with CKD may also have accelerated rates of atherosclerosis and vascular calcification resulting in vessel stiffness."

these factors contribute to development left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular failure

Reference: CMDT 2020, topic on chronic kidney disease.

 

Frequency of echocardiography

at time of starting od renal replacement therapy 

after 1 month of starting renal replacement therapy

after 3 months of starting or renal replacement therapy

then annually after starting of renal replacement therapy

any time if patient's symptoms change  

 reference: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15806502/

8) What are the efficacies over placebo for the available therapeutic options being provided to her for her anemia? 

"There was an improvement in haemoglobin (MD 1.90 gm/L, 95% CI -2.34 to -1.47) and haematocrit (MD 9.85%, 95% CI 8.35 to 11.34) with treatment and a decrease in the number of patients requiring blood transfusions (RR 0.32, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.83)."

ref: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26790135/

9) What is the utility of tools like the CKD-AQ that assess the frequency, severity, and impact on daily activities of symptoms of anemia of CKD? Is Telugu among the 68 languages in which it is translated? 

There are many studies which prove questionares efficatious and lead to early recognition of symptoms and prompt treatment.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jval.2018.09.2321

10) What is the contribution of protein energy malnutrition to her severe hypoalbuminemia? What is the utility of tools such as SGA subjective global assessment in the evaluation of malnutrition in CRF patients?

"subjective global assessment can be used effectively by providers from different disciplines, such as nursing, dietitians, and physicians; and in some studies has beenfound to be reproducible, valid, and reliable."

 

reference: 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8232450_Subjective_Global_Assessment_in_chronic_kidney_disease_a_review 

 

2) A similar patient data as above with diabetes and renal failure with metabolic acidosis and hypoalbuminemia logged by intern Dr Bhavya here 

https://bhavyayammanuru.blogspot.com/2020/09/aki-secondary-to-uti.html?m=1

Please comment on the differences in the diagnosis, therapy and outcomes in both these two patients. 

case 1: chronic kidney disease

The aims of management in CKD are to: 

• monitor renal function 

• prevent or slow further renal damage 

• limit complications of renal failure 

• treat risk factors for cardiovascular disease 

• prepare for RRT, if appropriate

Case 2: acute kidney injury

•fluid status

If hypovolaemic: optimise systemic haemodynamic statu

If fluid-overloaded, prescribe diuretic

•correct hyperkalaemia if K+ > 6.5 mmol/L

•correct acidosis if H+ is > 100 nmol/L (pH < 7.0) - administer bicarbonate

• Discontinue potentially nephrotoxic drugs and reduce doses of therapeutic drugs

• nutritional support 

•proton pump inhibitors to reduce curling ulcers

• Screen for infections and treat

• In case of urinary tract obstruction, drain lower or upper urinary tract as necessary

Would you agree with the provisional diagnosis shared for this  58 M in the online case report linked above?

yes, there was no symptoms suggesting of pre renal AKI like Volume depletion (vomiting, diarrhoea, burns, haemorrhage) Drugs (diuretics, ACE inhibitors, ARBs, NSAIDs, iodinated contrast) Liver disease

and symptoms like  "Decreased urinary stream since 3days  not passing urine since 1 day Pain abdomen since 1day." suggest a post renal AKI

What are the findings in the ultrasound of both kidneys? How do you explain those findings? Would it explain the etiology for his renal failure?  

It is normal in size

corticomedullary differentiation normal

pelvi calyceal saperation normal

in pre renal aki there is less perfusion to kidney and kidney is structurally normal 

doppler imaging would help in confirming less perfusion

loss of cortico medullary differintation is seen in CKD which helps in rulling out the condition

pelvi calyceal sustem is dilated in post renal AKI which helps in rulling out the condition