Kidney Diseases Dictionary Index
... This dictionary defines words that are often used when people talk or write about kidney diseases. It is designed for people who have kidney diseases and their families and friends. The words are list...

Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy
... When you have a urinary problem, your doctor may use a cystoscope to see inside your bladder and urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body. The cy...

Hematuria (Blood in the Urine)
... Hematuria is the presence of red blood cells (RBCs) in the urine. In microscopic hematuria, the urine appears normal to the naked eye, but examination under a microscope shows a high number of RBCs. G...

Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations
... This directory lists voluntary, governmental, and private organizations. Some of the organizations offer educational materials and other services to patients and the public; others primarily serve hea...

Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States
... K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Chronic Kidney Disease: Evaluation, Classification, and Stratification. American Journal of Kidney Disease. 2002;39(2, Suppl. 1):S1-S266. Summary of notifiable ...

Vesicoureteral Reflux
... Urine normally flows in one direction--down from the kidneys, through tubes called ureters, to the bladder. Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is the abnormal flow of urine from the bladder back into the ure...

Primary hyperoxaluria
... Primary hyperoxaluria is a rare condition characterized by the overproduction of a substance called oxalate (or oxalic acid). In the kidneys, the excess oxalate combines with calcium to form calcium o...

Lupus Nephritis
... Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system. SLE causes harm to the skin, joints, kidneys, and brain. The causes of SL...

Goodpasture''s Syndrome
... Goodpasture's syndrome is a rare disease that can affect the lungs and kidneys. It is an autoimmune disease, a condition in which the body's own defense system reacts against some part of the ...

Your Kidneys and How They Work
... Your two kidneys are vital organs that perform many functions to keep your blood clean and chemically balanced. Understanding how your kidneys work can help you to keep them healthy. The kidneys remov...

Kidney Biopsy
... A biopsy is a diagnostic test that involves collecting small pieces of tissue, usually through a needle, for examination under a microscope. A kidney biopsy can help find a diagnosis and determine the...

Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease
... Proteins are important building blocks for all body parts, including muscles, bones, hair, and nails. Proteins circulate throughout the body in the blood and are normally harmless. Occasionally, cells...

Analgesic Nephropathy (Painkillers and the Kidneys)
... An analgesic (AN-ul-JEE-zik) is any medicine intended to relieve pain. Over-the-counter analgesics (medicines bought without a prescription) include aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen sodium,...

Anemia in Kidney Disease and Dialysis
... If your blood is low in red blood cells, you have anemia. Red blood cells carry oxygen (O2) to tissues and organs throughout your body and enable them to use the energy from food. Without oxygen, thes...

Glomerular Diseases
... Many diseases affect kidney function by attacking the glomeruli, the tiny units within the kidney where blood is cleaned. Glomerular diseases include many conditions with a variety of genetic and envi...

High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease
... Your kidneys play a key role in keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range, and blood pressure, in turn, can affect the health of your kidneys. High blood pressure, also called hypertension, can d...

IgA Nephropathy
... IgA nephropathy is a kidney disorder caused by deposits of the protein immunoglobulin A (IgA) inside the glomeruli (filters) within the kidney. These glomeruli (the singular form is glomerulus) normal...

Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults
... Nephrotic syndrome is a condition marked by very high levels of protein in the urine (proteinuria); low levels of protein in the blood; swelling, especially around the eyes, feet, and hands; and high ...

Polycystic Kidney Disease
... Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys. The cysts are filled with fluid. PKD cysts can slowly replace much of the mass of th...

Proteinuria
... Proteinuria describes a condition in which urine contains an abnormal amount of protein. Proteins are the building blocks for all body parts, including muscles, bones, hair, and nails. Proteins in you...

Pyelonephritis (Kidney Infection) in Adults
... Pyelonephritis is a kidney infection, usually from bacteria that have spread from the bladder. Possible causes of infection include the following: infections in the bladder use of a catheter to drain ...

Renal Osteodystrophy
... The medical term "renal" describes things related to the kidneys. Renal osteodystrophy is a bone disease that occurs when your kidneys fail to maintain the proper levels of calcium and phosphorus in y...

Renal Tubular Acidosis
... Your body's cells use chemical reactions to carry out tasks such as turning food into energy and repairing tissue. These chemical reactions generate acids. But too much acid in the blood (acidosis...

Simple Kidney Cysts
... Simple kidney cysts are abnormal pouches containing fluid. The simple cyst is the most common form. Although its cause is not fully understood, we do know that the simple cyst is not an inherited cond...

African Americans Unaware of High Kidney Disease Risk
... Although kidney failure and its leading causes disproportionately affect African Americans, they are largely unaware of their high risk and of preventive measures, according to the first NIH study to ...

Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome
... Childhood nephrotic syndrome can occur at any age but is most common between the ages of 1½ and 5 years. It seems to affect boys more often than girls. A child with the nephrotic syndrome has t...

Growth Failure in Children With Kidney Disease
... The kidneys play an important role in a child's growth. In addition to removing wastes and extra fluid from the blood, the kidneys produce hormones that promote red blood cell production. The kidn...

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
... Hemolytic (HEE-mo-LIT-ik) uremic (yoo-REE-mik) syndrome, or HUS, is one of the most common causes of sudden, short-term kidney failure in children. In severe cases, this acute kidney failure may requi...

Overview of Kidney Diseases in Children
... The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located near the middle of the back, just below the rib cage. When blood flows through the kidneys, waste products and extra water are removed from the blood and...