This course provides a comprehensive foundation in clinical pharmacokinetics as applied to patients with renal impairment. Learners begin with kidney anatomy and physiology, connecting glomerular filtration, tubular secretion, and tubular reabsorption to the concepts of renal clearance and drug elimination. The course then explores acute kidney injury versus chronic kidney disease, including CKD staging, common causes and mechanisms of chronic renal failure, and how progressive loss of renal function alters drug handling over time.

Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing in Renal Disease

What you'll learn
Estimate kidney function and calculate renal drug clearance using clinical biomarkers and standardized equations.
Adjust drug dosing regimens for renally impaired and dialysis patients using pharmacokinetic principles and TDM.
Manage AKI and CKD complications through evidence-based pharmacological interventions.
Skills you'll gain
- Dialysis
- Drug Development
- Chronic Diseases
- Patient Evaluation
- Nephrology
- Physiology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Monitoring
- Patient Education And Counseling
- Diagnostic Tests
- Medication Therapy Management
- Pharmaceutical Terminology
- Pharmacotherapy
- Epidemiology
- Patient Safety
- Drug Interaction
- Urinalysis
- Public Health
- Medication Administration
Details to know

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13 assignments
June 2026
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There are 7 modules in this course
Module 1 introduces the physiological mechanisms of renal drug excretion, detailing the nephron functions of filtration, secretion, and reabsorption. It focuses on the quantitative assessment of kidney function through Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and clinical biomarkers such as serum creatinine, Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN), and Cystatin-C. The text explains how to estimate creatinine clearance using standardized mathematical models, specifically the Cockcroft-Gault and MDRD equations for adults, and the Schwartz formula for pediatric patients. Additionally, it establishes the diagnostic criteria for staging chronic kidney disease based on GFR. Finally, the module demonstrates how to derive renal clearance values using both the excretion rate method and the urinary drug recovery method.
What's included
12 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt
12 videos•Total 46 minutes
- 1.1 Course Overview•5 minutes
- 1.2 Overview of the kidney : Introduction•5 minutes
- 1.3 Gentamicin Pharmacokinetics and TDM: A Clinical Case Study•4 minutes
- 1.4 Renal Function by Serum Markers•5 minutes
- 1.5 GFR Estimation : Cockroft-Gault Equation•5 minutes
- 1.6 Examples: Cockroft-Gault Calculation•3 minutes
- 1.7 GFR Estimation : MDRD Formula•2 minutes
- 1.8 Other Methods for creatinine clearance estimation•5 minutes
- 1.9 Clinical Diagnosis of Stages of Chronic Kidney Diseas•5 minutes
- 1.10 Renal Drug Recovery & Excretion Pathways : Mechanism•4 minutes
- 1.11 Estimating Half-life & Uremia Dosing•3 minutes
- 1.12 Metformin in Renal Insufficiency•2 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- Introduction and Slides•5 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Practice of Module 1: Evaluation of Renal function•30 minutes
- Review of Module 1: Evaluation of Renal function•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Evaluation of Cystatin C in malignancy in oncology patients•10 minutes
Module 2 examines the effects of renal failure on drug pharmacokinetics, specifically analyzing changes in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME). It details the principles for adjusting dosing regimens in renally impaired patients using elimination rate constant (K) ratios, mathematical equations, and clinical nomograms. The module demonstrates how to calculate individualized initial and maintenance doses through practical case studies, including tobramycin and digoxin. Finally, it emphasizes Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) strategies to ensure clinical efficacy and prevent toxicity for narrow-therapeutic-index medications
What's included
10 videos2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt
10 videos•Total 43 minutes
- 2.1 Effects of Renal Failure on ADME•4 minutes
- 2.2 Dosing Adjustment: Assumptions and Dosing Regimen•5 minutes
- 2.3 Oral Administration : Dosing Regimen Strategy•4 minutes
- 2.4 Derivation and Application of K Ratio•4 minutes
- 2.5 General approach to K ratio : Example 1•5 minutes
- 2.6 Tobramycin Dosing Regimen : Example 2•3 minutes
- 2.7 Calculate IV Loading Dose of Digoxin : Example 3•3 minutes
- 2.8 Example 4 : Carboplatin•4 minutes
- 2.9 TDM: Purpose & Examples : Tobramycin & Vancomycin•5 minutes
- 2.10 TDM : Examples : Phenytoin & Digoxin•5 minutes
2 readings•Total 25 minutes
- Introduction and Slides•5 minutes
- Overview of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring•20 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Practice of Module 2: Effects of renal failure & TDM•30 minutes
- Review of Module 2: Effects of renal failure & TDM•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- The Case for TDM: When, How, and Why It Matters•10 minutes
Module 3 focuses on the clinical application and pharmacokinetic management of aminoglycosides and vancomycin in patients with renal impairment. It compares their antimicrobial profiles and highlights their shared risks of nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity, underscoring the necessity of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM). The module demonstrates how to calculate patient-specific pharmacokinetic parameters, such as the elimination rate constant k, volume of distribution ($V$), and renal clearance, using intermittent infusion equations and plasma concentration data. Furthermore, it applies these concepts to clinical case studies, illustrating the process of determining individualized loading doses, maintenance regimens, and appropriate dosing intervals to safely achieve target peak and trough concentrations.
What's included
12 videos2 readings2 assignments1 discussion prompt
12 videos•Total 46 minutes
- 3.1 Concerns: Aminoglycosides and Vancomycin in Renal Failure•5 minutes
- 3.2 Single and Multiple Intermittent Infusion Equations•5 minutes
- 3.3 A case for Gentamycin : 1•4 minutes
- 3.4 A case for Gentamycin : 2•5 minutes
- 3.5 A case for Vancomycin : 1•5 minutes
- 3.6 A case for Vancomycin : 2•3 minutes
- 3.7 General questions 1•2 minutes
- 3.8 General questions 2-4 : Drug regimen and protein binding•5 minutes
- 3.9 General questions 5-6: Digoxin and Normeperidine•5 minutes
- 3.10 General questions 7 : Carbamazepine•4 minutes
- 3.11 General questions 8-9 : Gentamycin and initial dose estimation•3 minutes
- 3.12 General questions 10: Metformin•2 minutes
2 readings•Total 15 minutes
- Introduction and Slides•5 minutes
- A Quasi-Experiment To Study the Impact of Vancomycin Area under the Concentration-Time Curve-Guided Dosing on Vancomycin-Associated Nephrotoxicity•10 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Practice of Module 3 Clinical pharmacotherapy in renal failure•30 minutes
- Review of Module 3 Clinical pharmacotherapy in renal failure•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- The Vancomycin Dilemma: Are We Overdosing to Feel Safe?•10 minutes
Module 4 examines the principles of renal dialysis and its pharmacokinetic implications for drug dosing in End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). It outlines the primary dialysis modalities, including hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, alongside vascular access methods such as A-V fistulas. The module focuses on the quantitative assessment of dialysis clearance (dialysance) using the Arteriovenous (A-V) difference method and the dialysate method. Furthermore, it details the pharmacokinetic factors that determine a drug's dialyzability, such as molecular weight, protein binding, and volume of distribution. Finally, it summarizes the general principles for dosing adjustments in dialysis patients, including the timing of supplemental doses and the application of hemodialysis in managing specific drug overdoses.
What's included
9 videos1 reading2 assignments
9 videos•Total 40 minutes
- 4.1 Renal Dialysis : Learning objectives & Introduction•5 minutes
- 4.2 Kidney Dialysis Equipment : Vascular Access•4 minutes
- 4.3 Hemodialysis & Peritoneal Dialysis•5 minutes
- 4.4 Dialysis Clearance : Drug Removal During Dialysis•5 minutes
- 4.5 Mechanics of Dialyzabilty & Pharmacokinetic Properties •3 minutes
- 4.6 Examples for PK properties & Dosing adjustment in Renal Failure•5 minutes
- 4.7 Application in drug adjustment : Examples •5 minutes
- 4.8 Common dialyzable drugs & questions 1-2•4 minutes
- 4.9 Questions 3-4 : Summary•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- Introduction and Slides•5 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Practice of Module 4 Dosing Regimen in Renal Dialysis•30 minutes
- Review of Module 4 Dosing Regimen in Renal Dialysis•30 minutes
This module addresses Acute Renal Failure (ARF), exploring its clinical definitions, epidemiology, and underlying risk factors. The module classifies ARF into pre-renal, intrinsic, and post-renal azotemia, detailing the distinct pathophysiological mechanisms for each category. It highlights the critical role of drug-induced nephrotoxicity, identifying high-risk agents such as aminoglycosides, contrast media, and NSAIDs. Furthermore, the module evaluates comprehensive management strategies, including preventive hydration protocols, pharmacological interventions utilizing loop diuretics, and the management of ARF-related complications. Finally, it reviews the specific clinical indications—using the AEIOU criteria—for initiating dialysis in acute settings.
What's included
8 videos1 reading2 assignments2 discussion prompts
8 videos•Total 38 minutes
- 5.1 Acute Renal Failure : definition and types•5 minutes
- 5.2 Classification of Acute Renal Failure•5 minutes
- 5.3 Risk Factors & Prevention for AMG, Cyclosporine, and Amphotericin B•5 minutes
- 5.4 Risk Factors & Prevention for radio contrast media, ACEI, and NSAID•4 minutes
- 5.5 Risk Factors for Cisplatin & Goal of therapy•4 minutes
- 5.6 Supportive care and specific therapy to prerenal azotemia•5 minutes
- 5.7 Specific therapy & Complications of ARF•5 minutes
- 5.8 Indications for Dialysis in ARF & Summary•5 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- Introduction and Slides•5 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
- Practice of Module 5 Clinical considerations for patients in acute renal failure•30 minutes
- Review of Module 5 Clinical considerations for patients in acute renal failure•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 20 minutes
- The Ethics of Prevention vs. Life-Saving Treatment•10 minutes
- Clinical Priority — Root Cause vs. Fatal Complications•10 minutes
Module 6 addresses the pathophysiology and clinical management of Acute Renal Failure (ARF) and the therapeutic approaches for chronic kidney disease (CKD) complications. It delineates the classification of ARF into pre-renal, intrinsic, and post-renal types to determine appropriate diagnostic and treatment pathways. The module also focuses on the management of hyperphosphatemia and renal osteodystrophy through the application of various phosphate binders and calcium therapies. Furthermore, it details the protocols for managing renal anemia, including the assessment of iron stores and the monitoring of erythropoietin therapy to achieve goal hemoglobin and hematocrit levels.
What's included
10 videos1 reading2 assignments1 discussion prompt
10 videos•Total 42 minutes
- 6.1 Chronic Kidney Disease : Overview and risk factors•5 minutes
- 6.2 Clinical presentation & stages of CKD•5 minutes
- 6.3 Evaluation of renal disease progression: Markers•5 minutes
- 6.4 Proteinuria & etiologies of CRF•4 minutes
- 6.5 Complications of ESRD : Metabolic acidosis•3 minutes
- 6.6 Fluid and Electrolytes imbalance : Hyperkalemia•5 minutes
- 6.7 Fluid and Electrolytes imbalance : Hyperphosphatemia & hypocalcemia •3 minutes
- 6.8 Complications of ESRD : renal osteodystrophy and anemia•5 minutes
- 6.9 Iron status & Oral Iron therapy•4 minutes
- 6.10 EPO therapy & Summary of this week•4 minutes
1 reading•Total 5 minutes
- Introduction and Slides•5 minutes
2 assignments•Total 70 minutes
- Pracitce of Module 6 An overview of Chronic Kidney Disease•40 minutes
- Review of Module 6•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Empirical Fluid Challenge vs. Diagnostic Delay•10 minutes
This assessment evaluates cumulative understanding of clinical pharmacokinetics across all six modules of the course and is designed to assess the ability to integrate and apply key pharmacokinetic concepts in clinically relevant situations. It requires learners to demonstrate overall mastery of core principles and their application to patient care, including the interpretation of drug concentration data and the use of pharmacokinetic reasoning to support safe and effective dosing decisions.
What's included
1 assignment1 discussion prompt
1 assignment•Total 50 minutes
- Final Exam•50 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 10 minutes
- Course feedback and reflection•10 minutes
Instructor

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Felipe M.

Jennifer J.

Larry W.

