AKI Case – Man with a Broken Heart

You need to know the context of these blood tests and why they were taken. You have a look on Trak and see that Mr Zhang was admitted with general lethargy, mild fever and just generally unwell. He had been investigated by his GP who found that his kidney function was a little deranged but identified no infectious source. He has underlying chronic renal disease which is thought to be linked to un-controlled blood pressure in the past. The blood tests were a routine admission.

Whilst potassium is a little high, you could probably monitor it at this level. It would be good to get an ECG to check there is no abnormality there and this would help you decide if you needed to treat it at this level.

Remember Mr Zhang has just had an MI and is likely to have been started on quite a few new medications for secondary prevention. Have a think about what medications could cause renal impairment post-MI.

This is rarely a wrong answer and whilst unexpected blood tests can be a sign of something wrong, without seeing the patient it is difficult to have a meaningful interpretation of these. Remember treat the patient not just the numbers!

Whilst this may be part of your management plan, I think there is a little more information that should be gathered prior to ringing them for advice.

PC – Generally unwell and abnormal renal function

HPC – Feeling generally unwell following MI 4 weeks ago. Had been well following discharge and felt like was progressing slowly however for last 2 weeks has had general malaise, mild myalgia and feeling a little feverish. No infective symptoms. No chest pain, SoB. No cough or coronavirus contact.

PMHx – Hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, COPD, MI- 2x stents to LAD

Medications

Lisinopril 10mg od

Amlodipine 10mg od

Bisoprolol 2.5mg od

Aspirin 75mg od

Clopidogrel 75mg od

Salbutamol inhaler prn

Atorvastatin 40mg od

Trellegy 1 inh/day

Allergies – penicillin

PMHx – Father MI in 50’s. Mother – vascular dementia

Social – Smokes 20 a day for 40 years, drinks 5 pints 5 nights a week, retired, lives sedentary lifestyle.

You go to see the patient

Feeling a bit nauseous, no chest pain. Alert, eating and drinking

• A- Maintaining own
• B – Chest hyperinflated, mild creps bilaterally AE, Sats 89% RA – Normal for patient, No increased WoB
• C- Warm peripherally, HS 1+2+0 nil added sounds. BP 115/63, HR 65, pulses palpable, no radio/radio delay. No bruits, no sacral oedema, no peripheral oedema, JVP not visible, mucus membranes moist
• D- Temp 37.8, Abdo soft no organomegaly, passing urine

Bloods – Hb 135, WCC 10.7, eosinophils 0.55 x 10⁹ /l , Plt 258 CRP 15

CXR mild bilateral pleural effusions

Allergy – there is some signs of inflammation and eosinophillia so this is a possibility

Infections – there is mild pyrexia and high normal WCC, although there is no sign of sepsis it wouldn’t be impossible he had an infection

AKI – Secondary to ACE-Inhibitor introduction/Uptitration. We would need to know if he was already being treated with ACE-inhibitor prior to his MI

AKI – related to contrast nephropathy – usually occurs closer to time of contrast exposure but is a possibility

Rash is present bilaterally, feet are cool peripherally. neurovascularly intact

B- Recent MI and angiography with 2x stents inserted, hypertension and hypercholesterolaemia. Strong family history of vascular disease.

A – He is alert and well. Euvolaemic in terms of fluid balance. He has no cardiovascular or GI abnormalities. His respiratory exam is largely normal but he does have small bilateral pleural effusions. He has a mildly elevated temp at 37.8. He also has a mottled legs bilaterally which are cool but neurovascularly intact

R – I would like you to come and see the patient and give me some advice on their management.

Cholesterol embolisation from angiography