Question

In chronic renal failure 

A. Glomerular filtration rate may fall by 70 per cent before the condition gives rise to symptoms. 

B. The specific gravity of the urine tends to be elevated, e.g. about 1.030. 

C. Blood P_CO2 tends to be low. 

D. Ionized calcium levels in the blood tend to be high. 

E. Anaemia is common.

Answer 1

A. True The kidneys have a large functional reserve. 

B. False Renal ability to concentrate urine is impaired; the range of specific gravity decreases, converging towards that of protein-free plasma, 1.010. 

C. True Poor excretion of acid residues causes metabolic acidosis which stimulates ventilation. 

D. False Ionized calcium levels fall due to retention of phosphate ions and failure of renal activation of vitamin D. 

E. True Due mainly to deficiency of erythropoietin.