Case history

Case history

A 54-year-old man with a 10-year history of diabetes and hypertension, with complications of diabetic retinopathy and peripheral neuropathy, presents to his primary care physician with complaints of fatigue and weight gain of 4.5 kg over the past 3 months. He denies any changes in his diet or glycaemic control but does state that he has some intermittent nausea and anorexia. He states that he has noticed that his legs are more swollen at the end of the day but improve with elevation and rest. Physical examination reveals an obese man with a sitting blood pressure of 158/92 mmHg. The only pertinent physical examination findings are cotton wool patches and micro-aneurysms bilaterally on fundoscopic examination and pitting, bilateral lower-extremity oedema.

Other presentations

Chronic kidney disease presents insidiously over months with vague complaints of fatigue, mild reduction in appetite, and, at more advanced stages, nausea and anorexia. Oedema is a common presentation - as the glomerular filtration rate declines, there is an inability to effectively excrete salt and water to remain in metabolic balance with dietary intake. Additionally, proteinuria with a decrease in serum albumin may contribute to the development of peripheral oedema.[3] 

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