DHA Nephrology exam questions
AKI, CKD, glomerular disease, dialysis, transplant and electrolytes.
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DHA Nephrology exam at a glance
- Exam code
- NEP5991
- Questions
- 150 MCQs
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Pass mark
- 65%
- Fee per attempt
- USD 280 (about AED 1,030)
- Result
- Pass or fail, no score
From the DHA CBT Guideline, Sep 2026. Delivered by Prometric; three attempts in total across the UAE authorities. Full DHA exam guide.
Try two questions from this bank
Original questions from the bank - pick an answer to see the rationale and reference.
A patient with CKD G4 has hemoglobin 92 g/L. Ferritin is 60 µg/L and transferrin saturation 14%. What is the most appropriate first step?
Choose an answer to see the rationale.
A man with cirrhosis and ascites has rising creatinine despite 2 days of albumin and stopping diuretics. Urine sodium is low and sediment is bland. What is the recommended treatment?
Choose an answer to see the rationale.
Not sure where you stand? Sit 12 of these questions free, timed at real exam pace, and see which domains you are weakest in.
Take the free mock exam →Liked those? The full bank has 450 questions at this standard - every one with a rationale and a reference.
Get the full bank - AED 289What's inside
- ✓3 full-length papers (~150 Q each)
- ✓450 questions, no overlap between papers
- ✓Four options, one unambiguous best answer
- ✓A full rationale on every question
- ✓A real guideline or textbook reference
- ✓Every sub-topic in the published blueprint
The Nephrology exam in every GCC country
| Regulator | Exam | Format | Pass mark | Fee per attempt | Practise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHA Dubai | Specialist Nephrology (NEP5991) | 150 MCQs in 3 hours | 65% | USD 280 (about AED 1,030) | DHA questions → |
| DOH Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra | DOH licensing exam Regulator-wide format | Written + oral/OSCE | Pass / fail only | Not published | DOH questions → |
| MOHAP Northern Emirates - Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah | MOHAP licensing exam Regulator-wide format | Computer-based | Not published | Not published | MOHAP questions → |
| SHA Emirate of Sharjah | SHA licensing exam Regulator-wide format | Set at assessment | Not published | Not published | SHA questions → |
| SCFHS Kingdom of Saudi Arabia | SCFHS licensing exam Regulator-wide format | 200 MCQs, 240 min | 500-560 of 800 | Not published | SCFHS questions → |
| QCHP State of Qatar | Specialist Nephrology | 150 MCQs in 3 hours | 65% | Not published | QCHP questions → |
| NHRA Kingdom of Bahrain | NHRA licensing exam Regulator-wide format | Prometric CBT | Not published | Not published | NHRA questions → |
| OMSB Sultanate of Oman | OMSB licensing exam Regulator-wide format | Computer-based OC exam | Not published | Not published | OMSB questions → |
| Kuwait MOH State of Kuwait | Kuwait MOH licensing exam Regulator-wide format | 150 MCQs, 170 min | 60-70% | Not published | Kuwait MOH questions → |
exact exam published for Nephrology
From each regulator's own exam pages; anything a regulator does not publish says so. Assessment mode also depends on your licence title, so confirm your route on your eligibility notice.
Try 15 free Nephrology questions with answersDifferent from the samples on this page - each with a full explanationStart →What the Nephrology exam covers
The published blueprint for this exam breaks into 8 domains and 51 testable sub-topics. Our bank covers every one of them - here is the full map, so you can see exactly what you are expected to know.
Acute Kidney Injury~15%7 topics
- KDIGO AKI definition and staging
- Prerenal, intrinsic and postrenal causes; urinary indices
- Contrast-associated and drug-induced nephrotoxicity
- Rhabdomyolysis and tumour lysis syndrome
- Hepatorenal and cardiorenal syndromes
- Atheroembolic renal disease
- Indications and timing of kidney replacement therapy
Chronic Kidney Disease and Complications~15%7 topics
- KDIGO CKD classification by GFR and albuminuria
- Slowing progression: RAS blockade, SGLT2 inhibitors, finerenone
- Anemia of CKD: iron, ESA targets
- CKD-mineral and bone disorder: phosphate, PTH, binders
- Metabolic acidosis and dietary management
- Drug dosing in reduced GFR
- Preparation for kidney replacement therapy and conservative care
Glomerular Diseases~15%7 topics
- Nephrotic syndrome: minimal change, FSGS, membranous (PLA2R)
- Nephritic syndrome: IgA nephropathy, post-infectious GN
- ANCA-associated vasculitis and pauci-immune GN
- Anti-GBM disease
- Lupus nephritis classification and treatment
- Complement-mediated disease: C3 glomerulopathy, cryoglobulinemia
- Diabetic kidney disease and amyloidosis
Fluid, Electrolytes and Acid-Base~15%7 topics
- Hyponatremia: evaluation and safe correction
- Hyperkalemia emergency management
- Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia
- Hypercalcemia and disorders of phosphate
- Metabolic acidosis: anion gap, Winter formula, renal tubular acidosis
- Metabolic alkalosis and mixed disorders
- Polyuria: diabetes insipidus and osmotic diuresis
Dialysis~12%6 topics
- Vascular access: fistula, graft, catheter
- Hemodialysis adequacy: Kt/V and URR
- Intradialytic complications and disequilibrium syndrome
- Peritoneal dialysis prescription and peritonitis
- Continuous kidney replacement therapy in ICU
- Dialysis infection control: hepatitis B and bloodstream infection
Kidney Transplantation~12%6 topics
- Recipient and donor evaluation, HLA and crossmatch
- Immunosuppression and calcineurin inhibitor interactions
- T-cell and antibody-mediated rejection; Banff criteria
- Opportunistic infection: CMV, BK polyomavirus
- Surgical and vascular complications
- Long-term care: malignancy and cardiovascular risk
Hypertension and Renovascular Disease~8%5 topics
- Hypertension in CKD: targets and drug choice
- Primary aldosteronism and secondary hypertension screening
- Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis
- Fibromuscular dysplasia
- Hypertensive emergency and kidney injury
Tubulointerstitial, Stones and Inherited Disease~8%6 topics
- Acute interstitial nephritis
- Kidney stones: types, metabolic workup, prevention
- Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
- Alport syndrome and other inherited nephropathies
- Kidney disease in pregnancy: preeclampsia
- Ethics: consent, conservative care and withdrawal of dialysis
6 worked Nephrology practice questions
Original exam-style questions from the bank, spread across the blueprint domains. They are not real or recalled exam questions. Try each one, then open the answer for the rationale and reference. None of them appear in the free mock exam, so reading them will not spoil it.
Question 1 · Acute Kidney Injury
Three weeks after coronary angiography, a 70-year-old has rising creatinine, livedo reticularis on the feet, eosinophilia and low complement. What is the most likely cause?
- ACholesterol crystal embolism
- BContrast-associated nephropathy
- CAcute interstitial nephritis from aspirin
- DANCA-associated vasculitis
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Cholesterol crystal embolism
Delayed, stepwise AKI after arterial instrumentation with livedo, eosinophilia and hypocomplementemia fits atheroembolic disease. Contrast nephropathy typically peaks within 3-5 days and lacks skin signs.
Reference: Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology, 7th ed.
Question 2 · Chronic Kidney Disease and Complications
Two weeks after starting ramipril, a patient's creatinine rises from 120 to 140 µmol/L with normal potassium. What is the best action?
- AStop the drug permanently
- BContinue the drug and monitor
- CSwitch to an ARB at once
- DArrange a kidney biopsy
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Continue the drug and monitor
A creatinine rise up to 30% after starting RAS blockade reflects reduced intraglomerular pressure and is acceptable; this is a 17% rise. Switching to an ARB would produce the same hemodynamic effect.
Reference: KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for CKD
Question 3 · Dialysis
Which vascular access is preferred for long-term hemodialysis when suitable vessels exist?
- ATunnelled central venous catheter
- BNon-tunnelled femoral catheter
- CNative arteriovenous fistula
- DSynthetic arteriovenous graft
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Native arteriovenous fistula
A native AV fistula has the lowest infection and thrombosis rates and best long-term patency. Tunnelled catheters carry the highest risk of bloodstream infection.
Reference: KDOQI Clinical Practice Guideline for Vascular Access 2019
Question 4 · Fluid, Electrolytes and Acid-Base
A patient on long-term omeprazole has potassium 2.8 mmol/L that does not rise despite 3 days of potassium replacement, with low corrected calcium. What should be checked and corrected?
- ASerum magnesium
- BSerum phosphate
- CPlasma renin activity
- DThyroid function
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. Serum magnesium
Hypomagnesemia, which can be caused by proton pump inhibitors, increases renal potassium wasting and impairs PTH release, causing refractory hypokalemia and hypocalcemia. Phosphate does not explain both findings.
Reference: Brenner and Rector's The Kidney, 11th ed.
Question 5 · Glomerular Diseases
A 22-year-old smoker has hemoptysis and rapidly rising creatinine. Biopsy shows crescents with linear IgG along the glomerular basement membrane. What is the recommended treatment?
- AHigh-dose glucocorticoids alone without other agents
- BRituximab alone without plasma exchange or steroids
- CSupportive care with ACE inhibition and diuretics
- DPlasma exchange, glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Plasma exchange, glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide
Anti-GBM disease is treated with plasma exchange to remove antibody plus glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide to stop production. Steroids alone do not control this rapidly destructive disease.
Reference: KDIGO 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline for Glomerular Diseases
Question 6 · Glomerular Diseases
A woman with chronic hepatitis C has palpable purpura, arthralgia, nephrotic-range proteinuria and very low C4. Biopsy shows a membranoproliferative pattern. What is the most likely diagnosis?
- AC3 glomerulopathy with MPGN
- BSecondary membranous nephropathy
- CIgA vasculitis with nephritis
- DCryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. Cryoglobulinemic glomerulonephritis
Mixed cryoglobulinemia from hepatitis C causes purpura, arthralgia and MPGN with marked C4 consumption. C3 glomerulopathy involves alternative pathway activation with low C3 and normal C4.
Reference: KDIGO 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline for Glomerular Diseases
Last reviewed September 2026
About these questions: every question is original, written to the published blueprint, with a rationale and a reference. No recalled or leaked exam content is used. How we write our questions.
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