CKD staging and monitoring
Revise eGFR, ACR categories, repeat testing, blood pressure targets, CVD risk reduction, ACEi or ARB use, SGLT2 inhibitor indications and referral thresholds.
MRCGP AKT renal and urology revision
Renal and urology questions are threshold-heavy: whether an eGFR or ACR needs action, whether a medicine should be paused, whether haematuria is safe to repeat, and when urinary symptoms point to cancer, obstruction or infection.
Quick answer
For AKT renal and urology revision, prioritise CKD staging, eGFR, ACR, AKI, medication safety, UTI, pyelonephritis, haematuria, LUTS, PSA counselling, renal stones, acute urinary retention and urgent urology referral red flags.
What to revise first
AKI and medicine safety
Know the AKI clues in primary care: acute illness, dehydration, NSAIDs, ACEi or ARBs, diuretics, metformin, contrast exposure and when urgent same-day assessment is needed.
UTI and pyelonephritis
Separate lower UTI, recurrent UTI, pregnancy, men, catheter-associated infection and pyelonephritis. The AKT often tests culture, antibiotic choice and escalation.
Haematuria and cancer pathways
Focus on visible versus non-visible haematuria, proteinuria, infection, age thresholds, bladder or renal cancer referral and when repeat urine testing is not enough.
LUTS, PSA and prostate disease
Revise storage and voiding symptoms, IPSS, DRE, PSA counselling, prostatitis, BPH medicines and suspected prostate cancer referral signals.
Renal stones and acute retention
Know renal colic, CT KUB, NSAID analgesia, infection with obstruction, single kidney risk, bilateral obstruction and acute urinary retention management.
Red flags to recognise quickly
- Suspected AKI with sepsis, dehydration, oliguria, hyperkalaemia or rapid eGFR fall
- Visible haematuria, persistent non-visible haematuria with risk factors or haematuria with proteinuria
- Renal colic with fever, rigors, single kidney, bilateral obstruction or uncontrolled pain
- Acute urinary retention, catheter complications or post-renal obstruction
- Testicular pain or swelling where torsion, cancer or serious infection is possible
- Abnormal DRE, concerning PSA context or systemic symptoms suggesting urological malignancy
Why renal questions catch candidates out
The trap is usually not obscure nephrology. It is deciding what the result means today: repeat, monitor, stop a risky medicine, refer for cancer, treat infection, or escalate because the patient may have AKI, obstruction or sepsis.
AKT renal and urology FAQ
Is renal and urology high yield for the MRCGP AKT?
Yes. The RCGP renal and urology topic includes CKD monitoring, AKI, UTI, haematuria, urinary retention, LUTS, prostate disease, renal stones, testicular pathology and urological cancer referral thresholds.
What renal topics should I revise for the AKT?
Prioritise CKD staging with eGFR and ACR, blood pressure and CVD risk, ACEi or ARB monitoring, SGLT2 inhibitor indications, AKI recognition, medicine safety, renal referral thresholds and hyperkalaemia risk.
How does haematuria come up in AKT questions?
Haematuria questions usually test visible versus non-visible haematuria, age and cancer-risk thresholds, infection, proteinuria suggesting renal disease, and whether referral or repeat testing is the safest next step.
What UTI facts are high yield for the AKT?
Know when urine culture is needed, how pregnancy, men, recurrent infection, catheters and pyelonephritis change management, and when red flags mean same-day assessment rather than routine antibiotics.
Official sources
This is revision guidance, not official RCGP advice. Check current RCGP, NICE CKS and BNF guidance for clinical decisions. Last reviewed June 2026.
October sitting
Oct 26
--
days
Keep moving, even on tired days.
Questions, mocks and explanations are free. Your first 2 hours of AKT audio are free. Full 4-month audio access is £79.