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Yearly Archives: 2023

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3 Things I Learned About Intermittent Fasting

See my story about how I went from thinking intermittent fasting was impossible to making it a routine habit. What I learned Intermittent Fasting is Not Hard The Body Adapts It Gave Me Confidence The health benefits of intermittent fasting are outlined in this article from the New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1905136

By |2023-12-17T00:23:51+00:00July 26th, 2023|Kidney Disease|0 Comments

Metabolic Alkalosis

This article will address: Diagnosis of metabolic alkalosis and assessment of compensation. Approach to differential diagnosis/ underlying cause of metabolic alkalosis. Metabolic Alkalosis Diagnosis Elevated pH (>7.42) Elevated serum HCO3- (>26) Elevated pCO2 (compensation) What you will initially see (either in the hospital or outpatient setting) is an elevated serum HCO3.  This can

By |2023-12-17T00:28:43+00:00July 19th, 2023|Kidney Disease|0 Comments

Dialysis Rounding Primer – Nutrition

Nutrition is an important part of managing chronic dialysis patients so much so that each unit has a registered dietician. Things that I focus on when rounding on a dialysis patient include: Albumin - Malnutrition and protein energy wasting Potassium Bicarbonate - Acid Base status Vitamins - B complex/ C Diabetes Albumin -

By |2023-12-17T00:31:05+00:00July 12th, 2023|Dialysis|0 Comments

MPGN Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis

MPGN is not a specific disease, it is a pattern of injury seen on light microscopy of kidney biopsy. Membrano - Diffuse thickening of glomerular capillary walls Proliferative - Increased number of cells in the glomeruli Therefore MPGN is when glomeruli have both thickened capillary walls and an increased number of cells. This

By |2023-12-17T00:36:36+00:00July 5th, 2023|Kidney Disease|0 Comments

Metabolic Acidosis – Approach to Diagnosis

You’ve evaluated an acid base disorder. You diagnosed a metabolic acidosis: pH: Low Serum Bicarbonate (HCO3): Low pC02: Low How do you figure out what caused it?  This article will provide a framework for differential diagnosis - looking at the: Anion Gap - Is it elevated? Delta - Delta - What’s that? Osmolar

By |2023-12-17T00:43:47+00:00June 28th, 2023|Kidney Disease|0 Comments

Dialysis Rounding Primer: Anemia Management

Anemia is an almost universal finding in patients with End Stage Renal Disease requiring dialysis.  The following factors contribute: Erythropoietin deficiency: The kidneys normally secrete erythropoietin which stimulates the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.  When the kidneys fail, erythropoietin deficiency occurs with resultant anemia. Iron deficiency: Patients on hemodialysis have ongoing

By |2023-12-19T23:41:11+00:00June 22nd, 2023|Dialysis|0 Comments

IgA Nephropathy

IgA Nephropathy may be the most common glomerulonephritis (GN)  in the world.  It is most common in East Asians (Chinese and Japanese), relatively common in Caucasians and relatively rare in people of African descent. IgA nephropathy can have a wide range of presentations with variable prognosis. This article will discuss: Clinical presentations Prognosis

By |2023-12-20T01:29:39+00:00June 14th, 2023|Kidney Disease|0 Comments

Nephrotoxicity from Chemotherapy

Nephrotoxicity from Chemotherapy There are many different mechanisms of nephrotoxicity from chemotherapeutic drugs.  These include indirect and direct renal toxicity. Indirect mechanisms Prerenal AKI due to hypovolemia from chemo induced nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea Ischemic acute tubular necrosis (ATN) from neutropenic sepsis or cytokine release syndrome (seen in CAR-T therapy) Direct mechanisms Nephrotoxic

By |2023-12-20T01:32:53+00:00June 7th, 2023|Kidney Disease|0 Comments

Dialysis Rounding Primer: Access – Arteriovenous Access

Arteriovenous access is the preferred access for hemodialysis (as opposed to use of a catheter). There are 2 types of arteriovenous access Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) - native artery transposed to native vein. Native vein hypertrophies under increased arterial pressure.  This becomes fistula.  This is the preferred dialysis access (over both catheters and arteriovenous

By |2023-12-23T21:25:15+00:00May 31st, 2023|Dialysis|0 Comments
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