CKD is also known as chronic kidney failure. Over months or years, the kidneys slowly stop working. Symptoms get worse over time and may include nausea, fatigue, itchy skin and high blood pressure.

Electrolytes are chemicals inside your body. They include potassium, magnesium and calcium. If electrolyte levels become too low or high, you may have problems throughout your body. Symptoms include rapid heart rate, seizures or muscle cramps.

Glomeruli are tiny structures inside the kidneys that clean blood. When glomeruli become damaged, the kidneys can’t filter waste products well. Conditions include lupus nephritis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Wegener’s granulomatosis.

Cancer that begins in the kidney is called kidney cancer or renal cancer. There are several types of kidney cancer. They include renal cell carcinoma, Wilms tumor and renal sarcoma.

Kidney failure is when kidneys stop working. During acute kidney failure, also known as acute kidney injury, the kidneys quickly shut down in a short time. During chronic kidney failure, the kidneys slowly shut down. The final stage of chronic kidney failure is called end stage renal disease (ESRD).

Kidney stones are hard objects made of calcium or other minerals that form inside the kidney. Large kidney stones can get stuck inside the urinary tract. This may cause severe pain, nausea or bloody urine.

Nephritis is another name for an inflamed kidney. Sudden inflammation may be caused by a bacterial infection or damaged glomeruli. Types of nephritis include interstitial nephritis, pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis.

This condition causes the kidneys to release too much protein in the urine. It can cause electrolyte problems, high cholesterol and swelling in the face or body.
 

PKD is a genetic condition that causes noncancerous cysts to grow in the kidneys. These cysts can grow very large and keep the kidneys from working well.

These conditions harm the blood vessels in the kidneys, which may become narrow or blocked by plaque or a blood clot. Renal vascular disorders include renal hypertension, renal artery stenosis and renal artery thrombosis.

Several tests measure how well your kidneys work. Blood and urine tests check the amount of waste products in the blood or protein in the urine. Imaging tests show the size of your kidneys and look for structural problems. Biopsies look for damage inside kidney tissue.

Medicines help slow the disease’s progress and treat health problems caused by kidney damage. You may need medicine to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, raise iron levels, reduce swelling or keep your bones strong.

A healthy diet helps keep your kidneys healthy. Our dietitians help you learn to eat certain amounts of protein, sodium, potassium and other nutrients. 

Dialysis uses a machine or a special liquid to filter wastes from the blood when the kidneys no longer can. There are two main types of dialysis:

• With hemodialysis, you connect to a machine a few times each week, for several hours at a time. The machine takes blood from your body and cleans it, then puts the filtered blood back into your body. 
• With peritoneal dialysis, a liquid cleaning material is pumped into your abdomen. The liquid is drained several hours later, after it absorbs wastes. 

This is a gentle type of dialysis. It’s used to treat very sick patients who aren’t healthy enough to have regular dialysis. CRRT is usually performed around-the-clock in a hospital intensive care unit [link to new ICU page], often for a few days at a time. 

Surgeons help treat certain kidney disorders or health problems caused by kidney damage. Procedures we offer include: 

• Nephrectomy – Removes part of a kidney or the entire kidney
• Angioplasty and stenting – Opens a renal artery
• Dialysis access – Installs a port in your body that connects to a dialysis machine