Neonatal Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam

Which assessment is important in addition to urinalysis for a neonate suspected of polycystic kidney disease?

1. Cystoscopy

2. Family history

3. Isotopic renogram

4. Magnetic resonance imaging

The correct answer is: Family history

In the assessment of a neonate suspected of polycystic kidney disease, obtaining a detailed family history is crucial. This condition has a genetic component, often showing an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, particularly in cases like Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD). Documenting family history helps in understanding whether there is a pattern of kidney disease in the family, which can guide the diagnosis and management of the neonate. Family history can reveal if relatives have experienced kidney issues, high blood pressure, or renal failure at a young age, all of which are significant indicators of genetic kidney diseases. This information can assist healthcare providers in determining the likelihood of polycystic kidney disease being passed down from parents to child, alongside other diagnostic tools. While other assessments such as cystoscopy, isotopic renogram, and magnetic resonance imaging may provide valuable information regarding kidney structure or function, they do not specifically address the genetic predisposition or confirm the diagnosis of polycystic kidney disease in the context of family history, making the latter the most relevant assessment in this scenario.