1 | Page
PCT Fresenius exam Questions and Correct
Answers
What are the functions of a healthy kidney? Ans: REGULATE,
SYNTHESIS, ENDOCRINE:
Regulate fluid balance, blood volume, electrolytes, acid-base
balance, synthesize calcitrol (active vitamin D), secrete
erythropoietin and release renin
what is the glomerular filtration rate in the five stages of kidney
disease? Ans: flow rate of filtered fluid through the kidney
stage 1: 90+
stage 2:60-89
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
stage 3: 30-59
stage 4: 15-29
stage 5: <15
what are the types and stages of kidney failure? Ans: acute renal
failure: sudden onset, severe, usually reversible. can be caused by
drug toxicity, dehydration, or motor vehicle accident
Chronic renal failure: slow onset, progressive, permanent. can be
caused by diabetes, hypertension, or genetic disease such as
glomerulonephritis or nephrosclerosis
what are the signs and symptoms of renal failure or uremia? Ans:
elevated serum levels of BUN/Creatinine, phosphorus, potassium.
anemia, nerve damage, yellow-gray appearance of skin, fluid
overload, dyspnea, edema, hypertension, proteinuria, uremia,
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
lethargy, weakness, headache, itching, fatigue, nausea restlessness,
mental change, loss of appetite.
what is anemia and how is it treated? Ans: lack of RBC (decreased
or lack of erythropoietin production). iron binds with hemoglobin
in RBC and transports oxygen. it is treated using erythropoieting
stimulating agents and usually administered IV.
which of the functions of healthy kidneys are replaced by dialysis?
Ans: removal of waste products and regulation of fluid balance.
dialysis does not regulate endocrine production
list briefly and describe three modalities of treatment for end
stage renal disease Ans: Hemodialysis: uses vascular access to
draw blood from patient and send to dialyzer and into
semipermeable membrane where diffusion removes waste
products and ultrafiltration removes fluid. provides approximately
15% of the normal function of the kidney.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
peritoneal dialysis: continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis and
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. both types use
permanent catheter in highly vascularized peritoneal cavity.
dialysate is infused into peritoneal space and allowed to dwell and
then drained. excess fluid and waste is removed through osmosis
and diffusion
what is the difference between hemodialysis and peritoneal
dialyisis? Ans: Hemo: outpatient, dialyzer is used to remove
waste from blood via diffusion and fluid is removed through ultra
filtration.
peritoneal: home setting, peritoneal membrane is the
semipermeable membrane that filters waste and fluid removal
occurs via osmotic pressure and concentration gradients caused
by the dextrose solution and dwell times.
when is it known that a patient has developed sensitivity to a
dialyzer? Ans: seen within the first half hour of treatment.
© 2025 All rights reserved
PCT Fresenius exam Questions and Correct
Answers
What are the functions of a healthy kidney? Ans: REGULATE,
SYNTHESIS, ENDOCRINE:
Regulate fluid balance, blood volume, electrolytes, acid-base
balance, synthesize calcitrol (active vitamin D), secrete
erythropoietin and release renin
what is the glomerular filtration rate in the five stages of kidney
disease? Ans: flow rate of filtered fluid through the kidney
stage 1: 90+
stage 2:60-89
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
stage 3: 30-59
stage 4: 15-29
stage 5: <15
what are the types and stages of kidney failure? Ans: acute renal
failure: sudden onset, severe, usually reversible. can be caused by
drug toxicity, dehydration, or motor vehicle accident
Chronic renal failure: slow onset, progressive, permanent. can be
caused by diabetes, hypertension, or genetic disease such as
glomerulonephritis or nephrosclerosis
what are the signs and symptoms of renal failure or uremia? Ans:
elevated serum levels of BUN/Creatinine, phosphorus, potassium.
anemia, nerve damage, yellow-gray appearance of skin, fluid
overload, dyspnea, edema, hypertension, proteinuria, uremia,
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
lethargy, weakness, headache, itching, fatigue, nausea restlessness,
mental change, loss of appetite.
what is anemia and how is it treated? Ans: lack of RBC (decreased
or lack of erythropoietin production). iron binds with hemoglobin
in RBC and transports oxygen. it is treated using erythropoieting
stimulating agents and usually administered IV.
which of the functions of healthy kidneys are replaced by dialysis?
Ans: removal of waste products and regulation of fluid balance.
dialysis does not regulate endocrine production
list briefly and describe three modalities of treatment for end
stage renal disease Ans: Hemodialysis: uses vascular access to
draw blood from patient and send to dialyzer and into
semipermeable membrane where diffusion removes waste
products and ultrafiltration removes fluid. provides approximately
15% of the normal function of the kidney.
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
peritoneal dialysis: continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis and
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. both types use
permanent catheter in highly vascularized peritoneal cavity.
dialysate is infused into peritoneal space and allowed to dwell and
then drained. excess fluid and waste is removed through osmosis
and diffusion
what is the difference between hemodialysis and peritoneal
dialyisis? Ans: Hemo: outpatient, dialyzer is used to remove
waste from blood via diffusion and fluid is removed through ultra
filtration.
peritoneal: home setting, peritoneal membrane is the
semipermeable membrane that filters waste and fluid removal
occurs via osmotic pressure and concentration gradients caused
by the dextrose solution and dwell times.
when is it known that a patient has developed sensitivity to a
dialyzer? Ans: seen within the first half hour of treatment.
© 2025 All rights reserved
