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Revealing the Unseen: Overlooked Causes of Pseudohyponatremia
One of the challenging cases in nephrology is managing a patient with severe hyponatremia, where each decision seems precarious. Overcorrecting sodium levels increases the risk of osmotic demyelination, while undercorrection leaves patients susceptible to complications. Nephrologists thread the needle carefully, focusing on avoiding overcorrection, typically aiming for a 24-hour correction rate below 6 to 8 mEq/L, or even lower at 4-6 mEq/L in patients with alcoholism, liver

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Apr 105 min read


The Mimic in Pregnancy - Chronic Kidney Disease or Pre-eclampsia?
One of the more challenging consultations in nephrology is evaluating a pregnant patient beyond 20 weeks’ gestation who presents with worsening proteinuria, high blood pressure, and increasing serum creatinine. In these situations, I am faced with deciding whether the findings show preeclampsia or the unmasking or progression of underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD). Preeclampsia often follows a more aggressive course and, in severe cases, may necessitate early delivery. In

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Mar 95 min read


The Diagnostic Trap of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Renal Significance (MGRS): A Kidney First Approach
I have often seen patients with chronic kidney disease who have an abnormal serum protein electrophoresis (SPEP) or free light chain (FLC) ratio and are referred to hematology before a nephrology evaluation. Many undergo an extensive hematologic workup, including a bone marrow biopsy, before their kidney disease is assessed. If the biopsy is negative for multiple myeloma or other hematologic malignancy, the abnormal monoclonal studies are attributed to monoclonal gammopathy o

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Jan 195 min read


Interpreting Hypocitraturia: An Etiology First Approach
As a nephrologist, I frequently see patients with kidney stones, and one finding that appears with striking regularity on metabolic evaluations is hypocitraturia, defined as urine citrate <320 mg/day. In large-scale urine studies, hypocitraturia is now the third most common metabolic abnormality in stone formers, surpassed only by high urine calcium (>250mg/day) and low urine volume (< 2 L/day), significant risk factors for kidney stone formation (1). Over the past two decade

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Nov 11, 20254 min read


Rethinking Osteoporosis in Chronic Kidney Disease: Breaking Norms, Saving Bones (Part 1)
Chronic Kidney Disease—Mineral Bone Disease (CKD-MBD) encompasses a spectrum of skeletal, vascular, and mineral metabolism abnormalities,...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
May 18, 20255 min read


Hyponatremia Due to Reset Osmostat: Uncovering the Clues
Hyponatremia, a condition affecting 1 in 3 hospitalized adult patients, is a prevalent and significant electrolyte abnormality (1). It is...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Apr 24, 20254 min read


Non-Proteinuric Diabetic Kidney Disease: The Flip Side of the Story
More than a decade ago, as a new nephrologist in town, I approached diabetic kidney disease (DKD) with the assumption that proteinuria,...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Jan 4, 20256 min read


High Output Heart Failure Due to Arteriovenous Access in Hemodialysis Patients: Overflowing and Overlooked
Fluid overload is a common problem in patients on maintenance hemodialysis and is frequently associated with increased hospitalizations...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Sep 29, 20244 min read


Non Diabetic Nodular Glomerulosclerosis: Identifying the Culprits
Nodular glomerulosclerosis is a histopathologic finding on kidney biopsy characterized by nodule formation due to the accumulation of...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Aug 23, 20244 min read


Target Antigens in Membranous Nephropathy: An Ever Growing Portfolio
Membranous nephropathy(MN) is a renal limited autoimmune glomerular disorder and is the most common cause of nondiabetic nephrotic...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Jul 17, 20244 min read


Familial Hypocalciuric Hypercalcemia vs Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Deciphering the Differences
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is a relatively common disorder affecting 85 per 100,000 men, with three times higher prevalence in...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Jun 21, 20243 min read


Pseudo Acute Kidney Injury: Navigating through False Alarms
Under normal circumstances, serum creatinine values are determined by its metabolic generation from the muscle, renal excretion, and, to...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
Jun 10, 20245 min read


Idiopathic Hypercalcemia: Looking Beyond the Obvious
Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is the most common cause of parathyroid mediated hypercalcemia (high normal or high PTH) while...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
May 31, 20243 min read


Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Great Masquerader
Kidney and renal pelvis cancer is the twelfth leading cause of cancer death in the United States (1). Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts...

Viresh Mohanlal, MD
May 1, 20244 min read
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