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 Conjugate Vaccine (e.g. PCV21)- 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
- eGFR <60 ml/min- Urine Albumin to Creatinine Ratio >=30 mg/g for >3 month (per KDIGO 2024)
 
- 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
- 
                          SGLT2 Inhibitor Indications (per KDIGO 2024)- eGFR 20 to 60 ml/min AND
- One of the following:- Urine Albumin to Creatinine Ratio >=200 mg/g (20 mg/mmol)
- Congestive Heart Failure
 
 
- 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)- SGLT2 Inhibitors (see above regarding Proteinuria)
- GLP1 Agonist
- Metformin
 
- 
                              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- Finerenone (Kerendia)- Non-Steroidal Aldosterone Antagonist (mineralcorticoid receptor Antagonist)
- Contraindicated in Hyperkalemia (Serum Potassium >5.5 mEq/L)
- Indicated if Urine Albumin to Creatinine Ration >=30 mg/g AND eGFR>=25 ml/min (per KDIGO 2024)
 
 
- Finerenone (Kerendia)
 
- 
                          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
- 
                              Statin Indications in addition to Hyperlipidemia (per KDIGO 2024)- Age >= 50 years old OR
- Age 18 to 49 years old AND one of the following- Diabetes Mellitus
- Cardiovascular disease
- Prior Ischemic Stroke
- 10 year Cardiovascular Risk score >10%
 
 
- 
                              Hyperlipidemia goals- 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
 
 
 
