What is Clinical Companion in Nephrology, 2nd Edition?
Clinical Companion in Nephrology, Second Edition is a practical nephrology handbook by Jack Fairweather, Mark Findlay, and Christopher Isles. Designed initially for medical students and junior doctors, it uses concise questions and answers, clinical scenarios, diagrams, examination-style questions, and practical chapters to introduce and reinforce core renal medicine.
Introduction
Nephrology can be challenging for learners because renal medicine combines anatomy, physiology, fluid and electrolyte balance, acid-base disorders, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, dialysis, transplantation, pharmacology, and practical procedures.
A useful introductory nephrology reference therefore needs to make complicated concepts understandable while keeping them connected to everyday clinical practice.
Clinical Companion in Nephrology, 2nd Edition was developed with precisely this educational purpose.
The authors explain that the first edition was published in 2015 as a handbook for medical students and junior doctors, with the aim of demystifying renal medicine and providing an accessible knowledge base in clinical nephrology.
They describe reader feedback emphasizing short, simple explanations, diagrams, and clinically relevant questions and answers.
The second edition retains that question-and-answer approach while expanding the scope of the book. It moves from clinically applied anatomy and physiology through common renal presentations such as haematuria, proteinuria, and electrolyte abnormalities, before progressing to more complex renal conditions. Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) receive substantial attention because of their importance in general medical practice.
The book also extends beyond traditional disease descriptions. It includes renal replacement therapy, dialysis, transplantation, dialysis in poisoning, practical nephrology, urinalysis, renal biopsy, and an introductory guide to renal histopathology.
For learners looking for an approachable clinical nephrology textbook with a strong question-based structure, this second edition provides a broad tour of renal medicine in a compact educational format.
Book overview
|
Detail |
Information |
|
Full
title |
Clinical Companion in Nephrology |
|
Edition |
Second Edition |
|
Authors |
Jack Fairweather, Mark Findlay,
Christopher Isles |
|
Publisher |
Springer Nature Switzerland AG |
|
Publication |
2020 second edition |
|
Specialty |
Nephrology / Renal Medicine |
|
Primary
audience |
Medical students and junior doctors |
|
Format |
Question-and-answer clinical
handbook |
|
Major
emphasis |
AKI, CKD, renal disorders, renal
replacement therapy, and practical nephrology |
The title page identifies Jack Fairweather, Mark Findlay, and Christopher Isles as the authors and clearly identifies the work as the Second Edition. The publication information identifies Springer Nature Switzerland AG and gives 2020 publication information.
The authors' institutional affiliations are the Renal and Transplant Unit at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow for Fairweather and Findlay, and Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary for Isles.
WHAT THIS BOOK COVERS: Clinical Companion in Nephrology 2nd Edition
The book is organized into seven major parts, allowing readers to progress from fundamental renal physiology to disease recognition, management-related topics, renal replacement therapy, and practical nephrology.
1. Physiology and renal assessment
The opening section establishes the foundations required to understand renal disease. Topics include:
- Structure and function of the kidney
- Assessment of glomerular filtration rate
- Proteinuria
- Haematuria
This provides a logical starting point for learners who need to understand renal anatomy and physiology before approaching clinical nephrology.
2. Disorders of renal metabolic function
The second part focuses on common electrolyte and acid-base problems, including:
- Hyponatraemia
- Hypokalaemia
- Hypocalcaemia and hypercalcaemia
- Hypophosphataemia and hypomagnesaemia
- Disorders of acid-base balance
These are highly relevant areas for general medical practice and provide an important bridge between renal physiology and clinical management.
3. Acute kidney injury
AKI receives extensive coverage. The section includes causes of AKI, rhabdomyolysis, cardiorenal failure, hepatorenal syndrome, thrombotic microangiopathies, myeloma and the kidney, investigation and management of AKI, fluid management, hyperkalaemia, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.
The emphasis is consistent with the authors' stated intention to devote substantial attention to AKI because it is commonly encountered by general physicians.
4. Chronic kidney disease
The CKD section covers:
- Overview of CKD
- Glomerular disease
- Renal disease and diabetes
- Renovascular disease
- Hypertension
- Antihypertensive drugs
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Renal anaemia
- Mineral metabolism
- Nutrition in renal disease
This gives the reader exposure to both the renal manifestations of systemic disease and important complications associated with chronic renal impairment.
5. Miscellaneous renal medicine
The fifth section broadens the clinical scope to conditions and situations that do not fit neatly into the preceding categories. It includes gout and the kidney, urinary tract infection, renal stone disease, pain management in CKD, the effect of kidney disease on drugs, the effect of drugs on kidney disease, pregnancy and renal disease, blood-borne viruses, and rarer renal diseases.
The inclusion of dedicated chapters on the interaction between kidney disease and medications is specifically described by the authors as an addition made in response to reader feedback.
6. Renal replacement therapy
For readers who are unfamiliar with dialysis and transplantation, the renal replacement therapy section is particularly relevant. It covers:
- Haemodialysis
- Peritoneal dialysis
- Renal transplantation
- Dialysis and poisoning
- Hypertension and fluid balance in dialysis patients
- Tunnelled dialysis catheters
- Catheter-related bloodstream infection
- Renal replacement therapy in the frail older adult
The authors explain that this section was intended to help non-nephrologists understand what takes place within dialysis and transplant units.
7. Practical nephrology
The final major section moves from theoretical knowledge toward practical skills. It includes:
- Urinalysis and microscopy
- Dialysis line insertion
- Renal biopsy
- Basics of biopsy interpretation
One particularly distinctive chapter is “Spotting the Glomerulus: Basics in Biopsy Interpretation,” introduced as a beginner's guide to renal histopathology.
Key Features
The book's principal educational features include:
- Question-and-answer format designed around clinically relevant learning.
- Clinical vignettes and “Best of Five” questions preceding each chapter.
- A bank of 50 examination-style questions distributed throughout the book.
- Increased use of diagrams designed to resemble classroom notes.
- Coverage of common renal conditions as well as more complex disorders.
- Dedicated AKI and CKD sections.
- Coverage of renal replacement therapy, including haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and transplantation.
- Practical nephrology chapters covering urinalysis, dialysis line insertion, and renal biopsy.
- Introductory renal histopathology guidance.
- Numerous appendices containing practical treatment, prescribing, dietary, protocol, and reference information.
The authors specifically state that each chapter begins with a “best of five” question consisting of a clinical vignette and five plausible answers, with one best option, providing 50 questions across the book. They also increased and modified the diagrams to appeal to visual learners.
Who Should Read This Book?
Medical students
Medical students are one of the principal audiences identified by the authors. The progression from renal anatomy and physiology to common clinical presentations and more complex disease makes the book suitable for developing a foundation in renal medicine.
The question-and-answer structure can also support active recall rather than relying solely on passive reading.
Residents and junior doctors
The book is particularly relevant to residents and junior doctors because many of its major subjects overlap with problems encountered in general medical practice, including AKI, CKD, electrolyte disorders, hypertension, fluid management, and renal complications of systemic disease.
The authors explicitly identify medical students and junior doctors as the original target readership.
Specialists
Doctors working outside nephrology may also find the book useful when they need a structured introduction or refresher in renal medicine. The renal replacement therapy section was specifically designed to clarify dialysis and transplant-unit practice for non-nephrologists.
Exam candidates
The examination-oriented “Best of Five” format is directly relevant to undergraduate and Royal College-style examinations. The authors state that the format consists of clinical vignettes followed by five plausible answers, with one best option.
Why This Book is Useful
Clinical relevance
One of the book's strongest characteristics is its clinically oriented structure. Instead of beginning with an exclusively theoretical treatment of nephrology, it uses questions and clinical scenarios to connect renal physiology with patient assessment.
For example, the opening chapter links kidney anatomy and physiology to questions concerning GFR, urine production, electrolyte regulation, acid-base balance, mineral metabolism, blood pressure, and erythropoiesis.
Practical learning
The practical component is another major feature. Urinalysis and microscopy, dialysis line insertion, renal biopsy, and biopsy interpretation are all included in the final section.
This makes the book relevant not only to readers studying disease mechanisms but also to those trying to understand how nephrology is approached in clinical practice.
Learning efficiency
The authors deliberately emphasize short explanations and accessible presentation. Their preface explains that reader feedback from the first edition highlighted the importance of concise explanations, diagrams, and clinically relevant questions and answers.
This format can make the book useful for focused revision, topic-based study, and rapid review.
Examination preparation
The 50 “Best of Five” questions provide an integrated question bank within the book. Because the authors describe this format as one used in undergraduate and Royal College examinations, it has a clear examination-oriented component.
Table of Contents Overview
The book is divided into:
- Physiology and Assessment
- Disorders of Renal Metabolic Function
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Miscellaneous Renal
- Renal Replacement Therapy
- Practical Nephrology
The appendices extend the practical material and include treatment of hyponatraemia, hypokalaemia, hypocalcaemia and hypercalcaemia; management of hypophosphataemia and hypomagnesaemia; plasma exchange; vasculitis protocols; glucose-lowering drugs and CKD; dietary potassium and phosphate advice; antibiotics for urinary tract infection; iron and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents; phosphate binders; calcium control after parathyroidectomy; chronic pain prescribing in CKD; haemodialysis care; peritoneal dialysis peritonitis; management of blocked tunnelled lines; and reference values.
Strengths of The Book
The first major strength is organization. The progression from physiology and assessment to metabolic abnormalities, AKI, CKD, miscellaneous renal conditions, renal replacement therapy, and practical nephrology provides a coherent learning pathway.
A second strength is the clinical question-and-answer format. This approach keeps the reader focused on questions that arise in clinical settings rather than presenting renal medicine solely as a collection of descriptive facts.
A third strength is the balance between common and specialized topics. AKI and CKD receive substantial attention, while the book also reaches into transplantation, dialysis, renal biopsy, thrombotic microangiopathies, myeloma, pregnancy, and rarer renal diseases.
A fourth strength is the visual component. The second edition increases the number of diagrams and changes their style to resemble classroom notes, specifically to support visual learners.
Finally, the practical appendices extend the usefulness of the main chapters by collecting treatment approaches, protocols, dietary advice, prescribing information, and reference values in one section.
Limitations
Readers looking for highly detailed subspecialty discussions or an extensive research-level treatment of individual renal disorders may require additional specialist references. This is best understood as a limitation of scope rather than a defect: the book's stated educational purpose is accessibility and clinical learning.
The book also identifies its primary readership as medical students and junior doctors. Although many topics are relevant to other healthcare professionals, the text does not specifically position itself as a comprehensive nursing, pharmacy, or research reference.
Comparison With Similar Books
Clinical Companion in Nephrology, 2nd Edition is clearly positioned as an accessible, clinically focused handbook emphasizing questions and answers, diagrams, examination-style questions, and practical renal medicine rather than as an exhaustive specialist reference.
FAQs
Clinical Companion in Nephrology, Second Edition is a clinical nephrology handbook by Jack Fairweather, Mark Findlay, and Christopher Isles. It uses a question-and-answer format to cover renal physiology, common kidney disorders, AKI, CKD, renal replacement therapy, and practical nephrology.
The authors identify medical students and junior doctors as the original target audience. The book is also relevant to clinicians and other healthcare professionals who need an accessible introduction or review of clinical nephrology.
Major topics include renal physiology, GFR assessment, proteinuria, haematuria, electrolyte and acid-base disorders, AKI, CKD, glomerular disease, hypertension, renal disease in diabetes, renal replacement therapy, transplantation, dialysis, renal biopsy, and practical nephrology.
Yes. AKI is one of the major sections and includes causes, rhabdomyolysis, cardiorenal failure, hepatorenal syndrome, thrombotic microangiopathies, myeloma and the kidney, investigation and management, fluid management, hyperkalaemia, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.
Yes. The CKD section includes an overview of CKD, glomerular disease, diabetic renal disease, renovascular disease, hypertension, antihypertensive drugs, polycystic kidney disease, renal anaemia, mineral metabolism, and nutrition in renal disease.
The book includes 50 “Best of Five” questions. The authors describe these as clinical vignettes with five plausible answers and one best option, using a format associated with undergraduate and Royal College examinations.
Yes. The final section covers urinalysis and microscopy, dialysis line insertion, renal biopsy, and introductory renal histopathology through the chapter “Spotting the Glomerulus: Basics in Biopsy Interpretation.”
Conclusion
Clinical Companion in Nephrology, 2nd Edition is structured as an accessible clinical handbook for learning and reviewing renal medicine. Its educational approach combines questions and answers, clinical vignettes, diagrams, examination-style questions, disease-focused chapters, renal replacement therapy, and practical nephrology.
The book's strongest emphasis is on making nephrology understandable and clinically relevant. Its substantial coverage of AKI and CKD is complemented by sections on electrolyte disorders, glomerular disease, hypertension, renal disease and diabetes, dialysis, transplantation, renal biopsy, and medication-related renal issues.
For medical students and junior doctors, the structured progression from renal physiology to clinical disease provides a useful learning pathway. The 50 “Best of Five” questions add an examination-oriented element, while the diagrams and practical sections broaden the learning experience.
The book is best understood as an accessible clinical companion rather than an exhaustive specialist nephrology reference. Its value lies in organizing a broad range of renal medicine into a clinically oriented format that can support foundational learning, revision, and practical understanding.
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