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Insurance Options:   Medicare  helps Americans and legal residents of all ages who have worked and paid taxes into the system, and need dialysis or a kidney transplant. More than 90 percent of Americans with kidney failure, what Medicare calls End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), have...

Food safety is important for everyone, especially for those who have received a transplant. Not handling foods safely can lead to food borne illness (commonly referred to as food poisoning). Food borne illness can be very serious, even deadly, so food safety must be part of your daily routine....

To best understand how to treat distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA), it is important to understand what dRTA is. Primary dRTA is caused by a change in one of several genes and is inherited. Secondary dRTA is caused by another disease or medication. The kidneys have...

What is distal tubular renal acidosis (dRTA)? dRTA is a rare but serious type of kidney disease that can be inherited (primary dRTA) or be caused by another disorder or medication (secondary dRTA). Primary dRTA is also known as primary type 1 RTA. Renal refers to the kidney, distal tubular...

There are no medicines that specifically treat C3G. Instead, current treatments aim to keep blood pressure, proteinuria (protein in the urine) and blood cholesterol levels low, and to control the immune system (the body's defense against infections).   The term C3G includes two conditions -...

Refractory gout is a rare form of gout. This condition can be painful and serious. People with refractory gout can also have problems with the kidneys. Signs and symptoms of the disease include chronic arthritis; joints with swelling, redness, and intense pain, and tophi (lumps around hands,...

Prostate cancer is now the most common cancer in American men. One of every 10 American men will develop prostate cancer at some time in his life. Prostate cancer is usually curable when caught and treated early. However, many cases are not diagnosed until the disease is advanced. Since early...

What is extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy? Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy is a technique for treating stones in the kidney and ureter that does not require surgery. Instead, high energy shock waves are passed through the body and used to break stones into pieces as small as grains of...

The diagnosis of brain death is defined as "death based on the absence of all neurologic function." Families who have had a loved one declared brain dead may have questions about what the term really means. What does "brain death" mean? Brain death is a legal definition of death. It is the complete...

Pathogenesis Refractory gout is considered an uncommon problem, but it remains a persistent challenge, and patients with this condition can have functional impairment and sharply reduced quality of life.1   Gout may result from chronic hyperuricemia, defined as a serum urate level >7.0 mg/...

Why do I need an emergency meal plan? This meal plan is for you to use in case of an emergency or a natural disaster when you may not be able to got to dialysis. It is important to follow a limited diet if you miss a dialysis session. A grocery list and a three-day meal plan for an emergency are...

Listing of Rare Diseases Includes information on certain rare diseases and how they impact the kidney for patients and their families. Acute Kidney Injury Alport Syndrome Nephropathic Cystinosis Cystinuria Fabry Disease Focal Segmental Glomerular Sclerosis (FSGS) Membranous Nephropathy IgA...

While there are variations in specific views, it is clear that most major religions of the world do in fact permit, allow and support transplantation and donation. AME & AME ZION (African Methodist Episcopal) Donation is viewed as an act of neighborly love and charity by these denominations....

The National Kidney Foundation has not issued specific recommendations regarding fluoride intake and kidney disease due to the limited available research on the topic. The benefits of water and dental products containing fluoride is the prevention of tooth decay and dental cavities in people of all...

A urinalysis is a simple test that looks at a small sample of your urine.  It can help find problems that need treatment, including infections or kidney problems.  It can also help find serious diseases in the early stages, like kidney disease, diabetes, or liver disease.  A...

The color of your pee can offer clues into your health, but kidney disease typically doesn't show any visible symptoms, so the only way to know if you have it is to get tested. Even if your urine looks okay, kidney damage may be hiding in the form of protein. Get checked to know for sure! Clear/...

Many analgesics should not be used if there is decreased kidney function, because they reduce the blood flow to the kidney. Also, long term use with higher doses may harm normal kidneys. It is important to realize that, while helpful, these medicines are not completely without risk, and they should...

What is vesicoureteral reflux (VUR)? About 1-3% of all infants and children have a condition called vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), which means some of their urine flows in the wrong direction after entering the bladder. Some of the urine flows back up toward the kidneys and can increase the chance of...

When you are told you have kidney failure and need treatment to stay alive, it can be a difficult time in your life. If your kidney diagnosis is new, you may feel overwhelmed, confused and angry. But there are some important things you can do to help yourself. Learn all you can about your different...

Knowing what to eat when you have kidney disease is very important. Kidneys filter wastes created by the foods you eat to help to keep the right balance of nutrients and minerals in your blood and in your body. We all need protein in our diet every day. Protein is used to build muscle, heal, fight...

The information on this page has been designed to help patients by raising awareness about the link between high potassium, chronic kidney disease, and congestive heart failure. Understanding the Dangers of High Potassium: An educational Infographic A recent survey of 488 adults...

In recent years, better ultrasound machines have allowed your doctor to see your baby's kidneys more clearly during pregnancy. Different types of problems can be found including absence of one or both kidneys, abnormal position of a kidney, hydronephrosis (swelling of a kidney), fluid-filled cysts...

Starfruit (carambola or Averrhoa Starfruit) is a fruit found in tropical areas.  It is originally from Asia. The fruit gets its name because it is shaped like a star when sliced. It can be yellow or greenish and has a taste ranging from bitter to sweet.  Studies show that eating starfruit...

Reflux is a disorder in which urine backs up (refluxes) from the bladder to the kidney. The amount of reflux can be large or small. What causes reflux? In the human urinary tract there is a valve where the bladder joins the urine tube, or ureter, that comes from the kidney. Some children are born...

If you have diabetes, your healthcare team will work closely with you to help keep your diabetes under control. They will provide you with information and teach you about diabetes care.  They will also check your A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other measures.  But most of your day-...