Diagnosis – the adjectives are just as important as the nouns

This article from the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology speaks loudly to this problem – The CKD Classification System in the Precision Medicine Era Chronic diseases of the kidney range from rare inherited disorders, such as Fabry disease, to more common acquired entities, such as diabetic kidney disease. Despite the myriad clinical phenotypes and histopathologic subtypes, even within, for example, diabetic kidney disease, this diverse collective is viewed similarly when estimates of glomerular filtration align. Contrast this approach with that of multiple myeloma, a diagnosis that prompts routine cytogenetic studies, such as fluorescent in situ hybridization, to guide additional diagnostics, therapeutics, and research. Classifying kidney diseases on the basis of eGFR further ignores the complexities of renal function. We should demand more precision in our history taking and reporting.  Understanding the adjectives helps us better address the patient’s complaints and diagnosis.  We should not simplify our diagnosis list.
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs