ABIM Nephrology study plan

Classify glomerular diseases by pattern of injury (nephritic vs nephritic-nephrotic vs nephrotic) and by complement level

Differentiate the serologic workup of ANCA-associated vasculitis, anti-GBM disease, and lupus nephritis and state which serologies to order first

Outline the approach to a patient with nephrotic syndrome including when to biopsy and when to treat empirically

Interpret a renal biopsy report in terms of light microscopy, immunofluorescence, and electron microscopy findings

Select induction and maintenance regimens for ANCA-associated vasculitis and describe monitoring for treatment toxicity

Apply the indications for plasmapheresis in glomerular disease (anti-GBM, ANCA with severe renal failure, TTP)

Identify drugs that cause glomerular injury (NSAIDs, interferon, checkpoint inhibitors, bisphosphonates) and the typical lesion each produces

Recognize the presentation and management of thrombotic microangiopathy and distinguish it from other causes of schistocytic anemia

Apply the KDIGO staging criteria for AKI and distinguish prerenal, intrinsic, and postrenal causes using the urine studies

Calculate and interpret fractional excretion of urea and sodium in the setting of diuretic use

Construct a fluid and electrolyte plan for a critically ill patient with AKI, including when to initiate renal replacement therapy

Identify perioperative risk factors that predict postoperative AKI and list nephrotoxins to avoid in the perioperative period

Diagnose and manage hyponatremia by volume status, including the rate of correction and osmotic demyelination risk

Diagnose and manage hyperkalemia in CKD and in acute settings, including when to use each potassium-lowering agent

Interpret arterial blood gases and calculate the anion gap and delta-delta to identify mixed acid-base disorders

Work through the approach to metabolic alkalosis and to normal-anion-gap metabolic acidosis

Stage CKD using eGFR and albuminuria and list the interventions that slow progression (RAAS blockade, SGLT2 inhibitors, blood pressure targets)

Explain the mechanism and management of CKD complications including anemia, mineral bone disease, and metabolic acidosis

Apply hypertension guidelines to patients with CKD, including choice of antihypertensive and targets in proteinuric vs nonproteinuric disease

Recognize secondary hypertension causes (renovascular, primary aldosteronism, pheochromocytoma) and the screening tests for each

Compare hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis modalities, their indications, and their complications

Calculate Kt/V and interpret adequacy data; describe the approach to a patient with inadequate dialysis

Identify causes of dialysis-related hypotension and of catheter-related and access-related complications

Describe the evaluation and management of acute interstitial nephritis and of renal artery stenosis and renal vein thrombosis

Evaluate a kidney transplant candidate and donor, and describe the workup of early and late graft dysfunction

Recognize and manage common post-transplant complications including rejection, BK virus nephropathy, and calcineurin inhibitor toxicity

Differentiate stone types by urine chemistry and select the appropriate dietary and pharmacologic prevention for each

Build a differential for cystic kidney disease including ADPKD, ARPKD, and acquired cystic disease, and describe the extrarenal manifestations of ADPKD

Recognize the major inherited kidney diseases (Alport syndrome, Fabry disease, autosomal dominant tubulointerstitial kidney disease) by their clinical clues

Complete a timed mixed-domain review emphasizing the highest-yield topics from glomerular disease, electrolytes, and dialysis

Re-derive the diagnostic approach for the three domains where practice scores were weakest

Rehearse the management algorithms for hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, AKI, and glomerulonephritis under time pressure