PAEA Surgery End Of Rotation (EOR) Practice Exam

In nephritic syndrome, which of the following is typically lost through the urine?

1. Proteins

2. Glucose

3. Red blood cells

4. Electrolytes

The correct answer is: Red blood cells

In nephritic syndrome, the primary feature observed in the urinary findings is the presence of red blood cells, which indicates that the glomerular filtration barrier is compromised. This syndrome is characterized by inflammation of the glomeruli, leading to hematuria (the presence of blood in the urine) and often the appearance of red blood cell casts. While proteinuria is a hallmark of nephrotic syndrome, nephritic syndrome typically does not present with significant protein loss in the urine. Instead, nephritic syndrome often has only mild proteinuria, which is not the dominant feature. Additionally, glucose loss is more characteristic of conditions such as diabetes mellitus or renal tubular defects rather than nephritic syndrome. Electrolyte abnormalities may occur, but they are not the defining urinary finding in nephritic syndrome. Thus, the typical urinary finding in nephritic syndrome is the loss of red blood cells, aligning with the understanding of the underlying pathophysiological changes in the kidney during this condition.