RASMUSSEN PATHOPHYSIOLOGY EXAM 2
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
◉ How many stages are there for Chronic Kidney Disease
Answer: 5
◉ Kidney damage is present, but GFR is > 90
Answer: Stage I CKD
◉ Kidney damage worsens as the GFR falls (60-89).
Answer: Stage II CKD
◉ Kidney function is significantly impaired as GFR is between 30
and 59
Answer: Stage III CKD
◉ Kidney function is barely present with GFR dropping between 15
and 29
Answer: Stage IV CKD
,◉ Kidney failure as the GFR drops to less than 15 or the patient
begins dialysis
Answer: Stage V CKD
◉ Manifestations of?: hypertension, polyuria with pale urine (early),
oliguria or anuria with dark-colored urine (late), anemia, bruising
and bleeding tendencies, muscle twitches and cramps, electrolyte
imbalances, pericarditis, pericardial effusion, pleuritis, and pleural
effusion, congestive heart failure, respiratory distress and abnormal
breath sounds, sudden weight change, edema of the feet and ankles,
azotemia, peripheral neuropathy, restless leg syndrome, seizures,
nausea and vomiting, anorexia, malaise, fatigue and weakness,
headaches that seem unrelated to any other cause, sleep
disturbances, decreased mental alertness, flank pain, jaundice,
persistent pruritus, recurrent infections
Answer: Chronic Kidney Disease
◉ Infection that has reached on or both kidneys
Answer: Pyelonephritis
◉ E. coli is the most common culprit. Kidneys become grossly
edematous and fill with exudate, compressing the renal artery.
Abscesses and necrosis can develop, impairing renal function and
causing permanent damage. May be acute or chronic
Answer: Pyelonephritis
,◉ Complications of?: renal failure, recurrent UTIs, and sepsis
Answer: Pyelonephritis
◉ Manifestations of?: severe UTI symptoms, flank pain, and
increased blood pressure
Answer: Pyelonephritis
◉ Inflammation of the bladder. The bladder and urethra walls
become red and swollen
Answer: Cystitis
◉ Causes of?: infection and irritants
Answer: Cystitis
◉ Manifestations of?: UTI symptoms, abdominal pain, and pelvic
pressure
Answer: Cystitis
◉ A condition in which the urethra, or the tube that carries urine
from the bladder to outside the body, becomes inflamed and
irritated
Answer: Urethritis
, ◉ Inherited disorder characterized by numerous grape-like clusters
of fluid-filled cysts in both kidneys
Answer: Polycystic Kidney Disease
◉ Cysts enlarge the kidneys while compressing and eventually
replacing the functional kidney tissue. The exact trigger is unknown.
Prognosis and progression vary widely depending on the type.
Answer: Polycystic Kidney Disease
◉ What are the 2 types of Polycystic Kidney Disease?
Answer: Autosomal Dominant PKD, Autosomal Recessive PKD
◉ Mutation on the short arm of chromosomes 4 and 16. Occurs in
both children and adults, but is much more common in adults.
Symptoms often do not show up until middle age.
Answer: Autosomal Dominant PKD
◉ Less common and more serious. Appears in infancy or childhood.
Progresses rapidly, resulting in end-stage kidney failure and
generally causing death in infancy or childhood.
Answer: Autosomal Recessive PKD
FINAL PAPER 2026 COMPREHENSIVE
QUESTIONS AND ACCURATE SOLUTIONS
◉ How many stages are there for Chronic Kidney Disease
Answer: 5
◉ Kidney damage is present, but GFR is > 90
Answer: Stage I CKD
◉ Kidney damage worsens as the GFR falls (60-89).
Answer: Stage II CKD
◉ Kidney function is significantly impaired as GFR is between 30
and 59
Answer: Stage III CKD
◉ Kidney function is barely present with GFR dropping between 15
and 29
Answer: Stage IV CKD
,◉ Kidney failure as the GFR drops to less than 15 or the patient
begins dialysis
Answer: Stage V CKD
◉ Manifestations of?: hypertension, polyuria with pale urine (early),
oliguria or anuria with dark-colored urine (late), anemia, bruising
and bleeding tendencies, muscle twitches and cramps, electrolyte
imbalances, pericarditis, pericardial effusion, pleuritis, and pleural
effusion, congestive heart failure, respiratory distress and abnormal
breath sounds, sudden weight change, edema of the feet and ankles,
azotemia, peripheral neuropathy, restless leg syndrome, seizures,
nausea and vomiting, anorexia, malaise, fatigue and weakness,
headaches that seem unrelated to any other cause, sleep
disturbances, decreased mental alertness, flank pain, jaundice,
persistent pruritus, recurrent infections
Answer: Chronic Kidney Disease
◉ Infection that has reached on or both kidneys
Answer: Pyelonephritis
◉ E. coli is the most common culprit. Kidneys become grossly
edematous and fill with exudate, compressing the renal artery.
Abscesses and necrosis can develop, impairing renal function and
causing permanent damage. May be acute or chronic
Answer: Pyelonephritis
,◉ Complications of?: renal failure, recurrent UTIs, and sepsis
Answer: Pyelonephritis
◉ Manifestations of?: severe UTI symptoms, flank pain, and
increased blood pressure
Answer: Pyelonephritis
◉ Inflammation of the bladder. The bladder and urethra walls
become red and swollen
Answer: Cystitis
◉ Causes of?: infection and irritants
Answer: Cystitis
◉ Manifestations of?: UTI symptoms, abdominal pain, and pelvic
pressure
Answer: Cystitis
◉ A condition in which the urethra, or the tube that carries urine
from the bladder to outside the body, becomes inflamed and
irritated
Answer: Urethritis
, ◉ Inherited disorder characterized by numerous grape-like clusters
of fluid-filled cysts in both kidneys
Answer: Polycystic Kidney Disease
◉ Cysts enlarge the kidneys while compressing and eventually
replacing the functional kidney tissue. The exact trigger is unknown.
Prognosis and progression vary widely depending on the type.
Answer: Polycystic Kidney Disease
◉ What are the 2 types of Polycystic Kidney Disease?
Answer: Autosomal Dominant PKD, Autosomal Recessive PKD
◉ Mutation on the short arm of chromosomes 4 and 16. Occurs in
both children and adults, but is much more common in adults.
Symptoms often do not show up until middle age.
Answer: Autosomal Dominant PKD
◉ Less common and more serious. Appears in infancy or childhood.
Progresses rapidly, resulting in end-stage kidney failure and
generally causing death in infancy or childhood.
Answer: Autosomal Recessive PKD
