This is why I developed a simple tool to help with the scientific diagnosis of common nephrological problems, as well as diseases spanning most specialties. It is a database of more than 700 likelihood ratios of tests (history, physical exam, radiology, etc.). The likelihood ratios are completely free for all to access and are available on my website and on an app I developed for the iphone/ipad called DxLogic. Android users are not left out as the website is mobile-friendly.
you to can use this resource to approach some common clinical nephrology
situations in a probabilistic and rational manner. The screenshots found below
are from the iOS application.
Example #1
You are consulted for a 50yr old man admitted with pneumonia who has developed AKI in hospital. He was started on ceftriaxone 10 days ago and, after examining the patient and a chart review, you wonder about acute interstitial nephritis secondary to antibiotics. You remember being told that urinary EOS are a great test for this disease. But does this test actually increase or decrease the possibility of this diagnosis? From the screenshot below, we see that the presence of EOS in the urine actually has no diagnostic value for AIN. You save the lab time and money by not ordering the test.
A 30 year old woman presents to your clinic
with symptoms and signs consistent with nephrotic syndrome. She also has a
questionable malar rash and a family history of lupus. You wonder if she could have lupus
nephropathy. Using the resource we find that her probability of having lupus nephropathy
before any tests are ordered is 14%,
negative. Plugging this into that app we find that her probability of having
lupus nephropathy on renal biopsy is now 3% – a low, but not an insignificant
percentage.
the important role that likelihood ratios can play in nephrological practice.
Please give my app/website a try and feel free to contact me with any comments
or suggestions.
@joyofmed
The app is now called docLogica in both the Android and Apple app stores.
You will need to contact the maker of the App. RFN is not involved in the app. We were only sharing the information.
tried to download the app. but its says “this app is not available in the US store, but only in Canadian store”.
Excellent work, We will try and feed back. Renal Transplantation ???