II. Protocols
III. Management: Nephrology Consultation indications
IV. Management: Lifestyle, Diet and Health Maintenance
-
Exercise
- Moderate intensity aerobic Exercise 150 minutes per week
- Resistance Training to prevent Sarcopenia
-
General Diet
- Sodium Restriction 2000 to 2300 mg/day
- Plant-based diets with reduced animal Proteins are preferred
- Maintain adequate daily oral hydration
- Maintain adequate Caloric Intake per day and
- In Unintentional Weight Loss, minimum intake: 35 Kcal/kg/day
-
Protein restriction (Stage 4 to 5, controversial)
- Low Protein diet
- Serum Creatinine 2-4 (GFR 25-55): 0.8 g/kg/day
- Serum Creatinine >4 (GFR <25): 0.6 g/kg/day
- Institute when Serum Creatinine >= 1.7
- Appears to significantly benefit only patients with Diabetes Mellitus
- Contraindications to Protein restriction
- Hemodialysis
- Elderly
- Malnutrition
- Nephrotic Syndrome (due to high Protein losses)
- Low Protein diet
- Habits
-
Vaccination
- Influenza Vaccine
- Tetanus Vaccine
- Hepatitis B Vaccine
- Covid-19 Vaccine
- Recombinant Shingles Vaccine (Shingrix) if indicated
-
Pneumococcal Vaccine (Pneumovax-23 and Prevnar 13)
- Includes age 19 to 64 years with ESRD
- Cancer Screening is not recommended in End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
- Life Expectancy in ESRD is not sufficient to warrant longterm cancer screening
V. Management: Hypertension and Proteinuria
-
General
- Decreasing Blood Pressure and Proteinuria are the most important preventive measure in Chronic Kidney Disease
- Ambulatory or home Blood Pressure Measurements are preferred for BP monitoring over Hemodialysis center BPs
- Hypertension is common in ESRD
- Hypertension correlates with volume status
- Modify hemodilaysis to maintain normovolemia
- Goals of therapy
- Decrease Proteinuria by 50%
- Decrease Blood Pressure
- Goal BP in Chronic Kidney Disease is controversial
- KDIGO (2021): SBP <120 mmHg
- VA/DOD and JNC-8: BP<140/90 mmHg
- Prior guidelines recommended goal BP <130/80 mmHg
- References
- Arguedas (2009) Cochrane Database Syst Rev CD004349
- (2004) Am J Kidney Dis 43(5 suppl 1): S1-S290 [PubMed]
- Goal BP in Chronic Kidney Disease is controversial
-
General Measures
- Limit Dietary Sodium intake (<2300 mg/day)
- Lowers Blood Pressure and decreases albuminuria
- McMahon (2021) Cochrane Database Syst Rev (6):CD010070 [PubMed]
- Limit Dietary Sodium intake (<2300 mg/day)
- Control Hypertension and Proteinuria with ACE Inhibitor
- ACE Inhibitor (or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker) should be first Antihypertensive used
- Efficacious in Diabetic Nephropathy
- Efficacious in non-diabetic renal disease
- Jafar (2001) Ann Intern Med 135:73-87 [PubMed]
- Indication
- Hypertension (Blood Pressure >130/80 mmHg)
- Proteinuria
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Non-Diabetic
- Proteinuria on Urinalysis (1+ Protein on Urinalysis or >1 gram per day)
- Random Protein to Creatinine ratio >200 mg Protein/g Creatinine
- Observe for Hyperkalemia
- Avoid with Potassium sparing Diuretic
- Avoid with Potassium Supplementation
- Management with adverse effects
- Orthostasis: Maximize clear fluid intake
- ACE Inhibitor (or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker) should be first Antihypertensive used
- Adjunctive Antihypertensive agents
- Step 1: ACE Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker
- See above
- Step 2: Non-Dihydropyridine Calcium Channel Blocker
- Step 3: Hydrochlorothiazide (or other Thiazide Diuretic)
- Use Furosemide (or other Loop Diuretic) instead if Creatinine Clearance <30 ml/min
- Step 4: Beta Blocker
- Use with caution due to possible adverse outcomes (including third degree AV Block)
- Step 1: ACE Inhibitor or Angiotensin Receptor Blocker
VI. Management: Comorbid Conditions
-
Diabetes Mellitus
- See Diabetic Nephropathy
- Maximize glycemic control in Diabetes Mellitus
- Hemoglobin A1C <7% best reduces Diabetic Nephropathy risk
- Precaution: ACCORD Study found higher overall mortality with intensive glycemic control in Type II Diabetes
- Goal <8% is also effective in preventing Diabetic Nephropathy progression with fewer adverse effects
- Gerstein (2008) N Engl J Med 358(24): 2545-59 [PubMed]
- Maintain careful Blood Glucose Monitoring in ESRD (higher risk for Hypoglycemia)
- Hemodialysis typically helps improve Hyperglycemia management
- Hemoglobin A1C may be inaccurate in ESRD (esp. on Hemodialysis)
- Glucose monitoring logs are preferred
- Medications preferred when GFR>30 ml/min/1.73m2 (most are contraindicated for GFR<20 to 30 ml/min)
-
Insulin is preferred in ESRD or GFR <20 to 30 ml/min/1.73m2
- Many other diabetic medications (e.g. Metformin) are contraindicated in low GFR
- Alternatives include Glipizide (but risk of Hypoglycemia) and Repaglinide
- Other measures to slow Diabetic Nephropathy progression
-
Coronary Artery Disease
- High Incidence of comorbidity
- Most ESRD patients die of Coronary Artery Disease before Dialysis
-
General measures
- Aspirin 81 mg orally daily
- Statin for most patients
- Control Hypertension
- CAD primary prevention in Chronic Kidney Disease for those WITHOUT Coronary Artery Disease
- Antiplatelet Therapy (e.g. Aspirin) reduces the risk of MI (NNT 125) but increases the risk of major bleed (NNH 100)
- Natale (2022) Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD008834 [PubMed]
- High Incidence of comorbidity
-
Hyperlipidemia
- Statin drugs are preferred
- Goal LDL Cholesterol <100 mg/dl
- Goal Triglycerides <200 mg/dl
- Lipid lowering therapy beyond age 80 does not appear to alter all-cause mortality
- Avoid additional Kidney injury
- Early recognition and treatment of UTI
- Tobacco Cessation
- Avoid Rhabdomyolysis Causes (esp. Dehydration)
- Maintain hemodynamic stability in Acute Renal Failure
- Avoid volume depletion
- Maintain mean arterial pressure >65 mmHg
- Vasopressors may be required
- Avoid renal dose Dopamine due toworse outcomes
- Manage Nephrotoxicity Risks and contraindicated medications at low GFR (<30 ml/min)
- Avoid Nephrotoxic Drugs
- Measure drug levels of nephrotoxic medications
- Limit radiologic Contrast Material to low density
- See Intravenous Contrast Related Acute Renal Failure
- See Gadolinium-Associated Nephrogenic Systemic Fibrosis (Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy)
- See Risk Score for Prediction of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
- Prefer lowest volume of lowest osmolar Contrast Material
- Optimize hydration status (e.g. Isotonic Saline) prior to Contrast Material and consider N-Acetylcysteine
- Other medication limitations for GFR <20 to 30 ml/min
- Avoid Metformin and Flozins (SGLT2 Inhibitors) in Type II Diabetes
- Avoid Bisphosphonates
- Avoid Direct Oral Anticoagulants
- Avoid NSAIDs
- For Bowel Preparation, use Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) instead of Magnesium or Phosphorus preparations
-
Chemotherapy with risk of Tumor Lysis Syndrome (prevent Uric Acid nephropathy)
- Pre-hydrate prior to Chemotherapy
- Consider Allopurinol prior to Chemotherapy
- Hepatic failure (Cirrhosis)
- Early recognition and treatment of bleeding, Ascites and Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis
- Replace albumin as needed
VII. Management: End Stage Renal Disease Complications
- See End Stage Renal Disease
- Careful fluid balance (avoid Fluid Overload as well as Dehydration)
-
Hyperkalemia
- Limit Dietary Potassium intake to 70 meq/day
-
Metabolic Acidosis
- Treat if serum bicarbonate <20
-
Hyperphosphatemia
- See Renal Osteodystrophy
- Causes Osteitis fibrosa cystica (poor bone strength)
- Results from Hyperparathyroidism
- Management
- Restrict dietary phosphate (limit to 1200 mg/day)
- Avoid soda
- Avoid nuts, peas or beans
- Avoid dairy products
- Medications
- See Calcium and Phophorus Metabolism in Chronic Kidney Disease
- Calcium Supplementation (maximum 1.2 to 2.0 grams daily)
- Phosphate-binding
- Calcium Carbonate or acetate
- Sevelamer hydrochloride or carbonate
- Vitamin D Supplementation (critical!)
- Correct acidosis
- Restrict dietary phosphate (limit to 1200 mg/day)
-
Anemia (Hemoglobin <11 grams per dl)
- Iron supplement indicated for Ferritin <10 ng/ml
- Erythropoetin or Aranesp indications
- Anemia dependent Angina
- Hemoglobin decline requires transfusion
- Hemoglobin <10 grams/dl or Hematocrit <30-32
- Use goal >9 grams/dl in comorbid cancer
- Avoid increasing Hemoglobin >11 g/dl (higher morbidity and mortality)
- References
- (2007) Am J Kidney Dis 50(3): 471-530 [PubMed]
- FDA EPO agent recommendations
-
Osteoporosis
- Control Calcium and Phosphorus
- Control Parathyroid Hormone
- Use Bisphosphonates only with caution
- Consider nephrology Consultation
- Do not use for GFR <30-40 ml/min
- Only use for strong indications
- Fractures or bone loss
- High bone turnover by bone biopsy
- Controlled PTH, Calcium and Phosphorus