Certified Dialysis Nurse Practice Test

Benign nephrosclerosis is a condition characterized by the thickening of the kidney's blood vessels, often related to hypertension. One of the key signs associated with this condition is proteinuria, which refers to the presence of an abnormal amount of protein in the urine. The presence of protein can indicate damage to the kidney’s filtering units, or glomeruli, which occurs when there is chronic high blood pressure affecting renal circulation. This damage leads to increased permeability of the glomeruli, allowing proteins that normally stay in the bloodstream to leak into the urine.

While elevated blood sugar levels, frequent urination, and fatigue can be associated with various kidney disorders or conditions, they are not direct indicators of benign nephrosclerosis. Elevated blood sugar levels are more specifically linked to diabetes, which can subsequently affect kidney function, but they do not specifically indicate benign nephrosclerosis. Frequent urination can be symptomatic of many conditions, including diabetes and urinary tract infections, rather than being a hallmark of nephrosclerosis. Fatigue is a nonspecific symptom that can arise from multiple health issues, making it less characteristic of benign nephrosclerosis specifically. Thus, the presence of proteinuria is a significant and relevant indicator for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of benign nephrosclerosis