Also known as renal failure, a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter waste products from the blood.
A condition with a wide range of causes in which the kidneys are damaged and unable to fully remove waste and excess fluid from the body. Left untreated, kidney disease can progress to kidney failure.
3. What is acute tubular (TOO-byoo-lur) necrosis (neh-KRO-sis) (ATN)?
A severe form of acute renal failure that develops in people with severe illnesses like infections or with low blood pressure. Patients may need dialysis. Kidney function often improves if the underlying disease is successfully treated.
4. What is anemia (uh-NEE-mee-uh)?
The condition of having too few red blood cells. Healthy red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. If the blood is low on red blood cells, the body does not get enough oxygen. People with anemia may be tired and pale and may feel their heartbeat change. Anemia is common in people with chronic kidney disease or those on dialysis. (See also erythropoietin.)
5. What is chronic kidney disease?
Slow and progressive loss of kidney function over several years, often resulting in permanent kidney failure. People with permanent kidney failure need dialysis or transplantation (see transplant) to replace the work of the kidneys.
6. What is congenital (kun-JEN-ih-tul) nephrotic (nef-RAH-tik) syndrome?
A genetic kidney disease that develops before birth or in the first few months of life. Congenital nephrotic syndrome usually leads to end-stage renal disease and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant by the second or third year of life.
A cleansing liquid used in the two major forms of dialysis'hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Dialysis solution contains dextrose (a sugar) and other chemicals similar to those in the body. Dextrose draws wastes and extra fluid from the body into the dialysis solution.
8. What is Glomerular (gloh-MEHR-yoo-ler) filtration rate (GFR)?
A calculation of how efficiently the kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood. A traditional GFR calculation requires an injection into the bloodstream of a fluid that is later measured in a 24-hour urine collection. A modified GFR calculation requires only that the creatinine in a blood sample be measured. Each laboratory has its own normal range for measurements. Generally, the normal range for men is 97 to 137 mL/min/1.73 m2 of body surface area. The normal range for women is 88 to 128 mL/min/1.73 m2.
9. What is immunosuppressant (ih-MYOON-oh-suh-PRESS-unt)?
A drug given to suppress the natural responses of the body's immune system. Immunosuppressants are given to transplant patients to prevent organ rejection and to patients with autoimmune diseases like lupus.
A thin sheet or layer of tissue that lines a cavity or separates two parts of the body. A membrane can act as a filter, allowing some particles to pass from one part of the body to another while keeping others where they are. The artificial membrane in a dialyzer filters waste products from the blood.
11. What is urea (yoo-REE-uh)?
A waste product found in the blood and caused by the normal breakdown of protein in the liver. Urea is normally removed from the blood by the kidneys and then excreted in the urine. Urea accumulates in the body of people with renal failure.
12. What is urinary (YOOR-ih-NEHR-ee) tract?
The system that takes wastes from the blood and carries them out of the body in the form of urine. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, renal pelvises, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
13. What is wegener's granulomatosis (GRAN-yoo-LOH-muh-TOH-sis)?
An autoimmune disease that damages the blood vessels and causes disease in the lungs, upper respiratory tract, and kidneys.
A disease characterized by an abnormal build up of proteins (called amyloids) in various organs in the body.
Inflammation of the substance of the kidney as a result of bacterial infection.
A type of medicine that helps your body get rid of extra fluid. Having too much fluid in your body can raise your blood pressure. Diuretics are sometimes called “water pills
In hemodialysis (see dialysis), a vascular access surgically created using a synthetic tube to connect an artery to a vein. In transplantation (see transplant), a graft is the transplanted organ or tissue.
One of two bean-shaped organs that filter wastes from the blood. The kidneys are located near the middle of the back. They create urine, which is delivered to the bladder through tubes called ureters.
19. What is kt/V (kay-tee over vee)?
A measurement of dialysis dose. The measurement takes into account the efficiency of the dialyzer, the treatment time, and the total volume of urea in the body.
20. What is kidney Transplant?
When a healthy kidney from one person is placed in someone else whose kidneys have failed. A kidney transplant can come from a living donor or from someone who has just died.
21. What is renal osteodystrophy (AH-stee-oh-DIS-truh-fee)?
Weak bones caused by poorly working kidneys. Renal osteodystrophy is a common problem for people on dialysis who have high phosphate levels or insufficient vitamin D supplementation.
Liquid waste product filtered from the blood by the kidneys, stored in the bladder, and expelled from the body through the urethra by the act of voiding or urinating.
23. What is diabetic kidney disorder?
Kidney disease that results from diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure; almost a third of people with diabetes develop diabetic nephropathy because of other long-standing medical conditions that contribute to kidney disease.
24. What is albuminuria (AL-byoo-mih-NOO-ree-uh)?
More than normal amounts of a protein called albumin in the urine. Albuminuria may be a sign of kidney disease.
25. What is biopsy (BY-op-see)?
A procedure in which a tiny piece of a body part, such as the kidney or bladder, is removed for examination under a microscope.
