ABP Pediatric Nephrology study guide
ABP Pediatric Nephrology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The Pediatric Nephrology Subspecialty Certifying Examination is the American Board of Pediatrics' assessment for physicians who have completed pediatric nephrology fellowship training and who want formal subspecialty board certification. It is aimed at pediatricians who already hold general pediatrics certification (or qualify through an approved pathway) and who want external validation of their competence in the care of children with kidney disease, from infancy through young adulthood. The ABP Pediatric Nephrology study guide has 8 sections and about 2,264 words.
01Glomerular and Vascular Disorders
Nephrotic syndrome is defined by heavy proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia; in children, minimal change disease is the most common cause and is usually steroid-sensitive. Nephritic syndrome is defined by hematuria with red-cell casts, hypertension, oliguria, and azotemia.
324 words, about 2 min02Tubular, Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders
Understand renal tubular handling of bicarbonate, sodium, potassium, and water. Proximal (type 2) renal tubular acidosis causes bicarbonate wasting, hypokalemia, and Fanconi syndrome; distal (type 1) RTA causes inability to acidify urine (urine pH above 5.5), hypokalemia, hypercalciuria, and nephrocalcinosis; type 4 RTA causes hyperkalemia from hypoaldosteronism or aldosterone resistance.
285 words, about 1 min03Hypertension and Renovascular Disease
Pediatric hypertension is defined using age-, sex-, and height-specific percentiles; values at or above the 95th percentile on repeated measurements require evaluation, and severe hypertension with end-organ symptoms is an emergency. Primary hypertension is more common in older adolescents with obesity and family history.
330 words, about 2 min04Acute Kidney Injury and Critical Care Nephrology
Acute kidney injury is defined by KDIGO criteria: a rise in serum creatinine of at least 0.3 mg/dL within 48 hours, a rise to at least 1.5 times baseline within 7 days, or urine output below 0.5 mL/kg/h for 6 hours. Classify prerenal, intrinsic renal, and postrenal causes.
286 words, about 1 min05Chronic Kidney Disease, Growth, and Nutrition
Chronic kidney disease in children is staged by glomerular filtration rate and albuminuria. Common causes are congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract, glomerular disease, and hereditary disorders.
283 words, about 1 min06Dialysis and Renal Replacement Therapy
Renal replacement therapy includes hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and continuous renal replacement therapy. Urgent indications are summarized by AEIOU: acidosis, electrolyte disturbance (especially hyperkalemia), intoxication, fluid overload, and uremic complications such as encephalopathy or pericarditis.
252 words, about 1 min07Kidney Transplantation and Immunosuppression
Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for children with end-stage kidney disease because it improves survival, growth, and quality of life. Pretransplant evaluation includes HLA typing, crossmatching, viral serologies, cardiac and urologic assessment, and vaccination.
237 words, about 1 min08Congenital, Hereditary, Urologic, and Developmental Renal Disorders
Congenital and hereditary renal disorders include CAKUT, vesicoureteral reflux, obstruction, cystic diseases, and hereditary nephropathies. Posterior urethral valves occur in males and can cause bilateral hydronephrosis, thickened bladder, weak stream, and oligohydramnios; immediate bladder drainage is essential.
267 words, about 1 min