Nephrology
Clinical discussions on kidney disease management, dialysis, transplantation, and electrolyte disorders.
Recent Discussions
Do you recommend uric acid lowering therapies for asymptomatic hyperuricemia in chronic kidney disease?
There is conflicting literature about what to do with elevated uric acid levels in CKD patients. In my practice, I do usually treat high uric acid level over 10 even if asymptomatic. I definitely give allopurinol earlier if elevated uric acid levels and history of kidney stones, even if they are not...
How would you approach the management of a new SLE patient presenting with lupus podocytopathy with FSGS and severe proteinuria (Pr/Cr 18) without immune complex deposition?
Hopefully one of the nephrologists will chime in on this one. However, this reminds me very much of a similar SLE patient I started to take care of about 6 years ago (BX = podocytopathy and FSGS; had marked proteinuria and renal dysfunction). I treated her with high-dose steroids, hydroxychloroquine...
Do you prefer starting a SGLT2i before steroids in patients with IgA nephropathy and proteinuria > 1.0 gram/day who are unable to tolerate ACEi/ARB due to hypotension?
I do try to start almost all of my IgAN patients on ACE-I/ARB and SGLT2i to help decrease proteinuria. The decision to start steroids or any other immunosuppressive treatment does not always have to wait for 6 months of conservative treatment and if still with residual proteinuria, then consider imm...
What is your approach to patients with advanced chronic kidney disease who are taking aluminum containing medications?
If taking infrequently would not be all that concerned although there are other options available. Would instruct them to avoid citrate-containing medications such as Bicitra due to their enhancing Al absorption from the GI tract.
Do you recommend parathyroid adenoma resection or ablation for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and recurrent nephrolithiasis who are found to have a single gland adenoma on parathyroid ultrasound and nuclear medicine imaging?
Yes. My two indications for ablation/resection of a proven parathyroid adenoma are (1) metabolically active calcium-based kidney stone disease and/or (2) osteopenia/porosis as identified by bone scan. I think there is strong evidence that primary hyperparathyroidism can cause either or both. In the ...
Do you administer calcium to patients with K > 6.5 without EKG changes?
No. But our ER does as a reflex and I don't have a problem with that. It used to drive me nuts bc it sent the wrong message, as though Ca lowers [K] level (of course it does not, it just decreases cardiac effect). But you don't know how fast they are being seen, how fast they will get treated, so I ...
What is your approach to interpreting urine studies in patients hospitalized for hyponatremia who have recently received intravenous fluids containing sodium chloride?
Regardless of whether or not the patient receives intravenous saline infusion, a low urinary sodium concentration is still suggestive of reduced tissue perfusion (hypovolemia, CHF, cirrhosis).
Would you recommend cinacalcet for patients with recurrent nephrolithiasis who have hypercalciuria despite thiazide diuretic use and who also have an elevated PTH level without localizing parathyroid adenoma on imaging?
This is a tricky question with a nuanced answer. If the hyperparathyroidism is secondary, cinacalcet may have a role in treatment along with normalizing serum phosphorus and vitamin D. However, metabolically active kidney stones are unusual in advanced chronic kidney disease. If the hyperparathyroid...
How do you approach a patient request to decrease hemodialysis time when Kt/V values are above target but serum phosphorus remains poorly controlled?
Reducing time is the wrong approach, phosphorus control is a long-term problem and we all know it will go up and down. I only accept time reduction when approaching end of life to make the patient more comfortable. By then, I would have already started palliative care conversations.
How do you approach the management of persistent hyperphosphatemia in ESKD patients who are non-adherent to phosphate binders?
This is not easy. The first thing I usually do is try and find out why they are non-adherent. Is it due to side effects, cost, etc? Are there social reasons? For example, are they "embarrassed" to take binders if they are out eating with friends? Often, I find that I need to switch binders to see if...