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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...

What is anemia? Anemia happens when your red blood cells are in short supply. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to all parts of your body, giving you the energy you need for your daily activities. What are the symptoms of anemia? Anemia can cause you to: Look pale Feel tired Have little...

A new baby is a joy for any family. But pregnancy can put a lot of stress on your body. If you have kidney disease or kidney failure, it can put you and the health of your unborn child at risk. Are you thinking about pregnancy? If so, you should discuss it beforehand with your doctor or other...

33% of American adults are at risk for kidney disease. Yes, one in three people. If you are Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian American, Pacific Islander, American Indian, or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, heritage you may be at an increased risk...

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...

What is carbohydrate counting? Carbohydrate counting is a way for you to keep track of the amount of sugar, known as carbohydrates, that you eat. If you have diabetes, it is important to learn about carbohydrates found in food. Keeping track of your carbohydrate intake will help you control your...

Poor growth and appropriate weight gain are two major nutrition problems for children with kidney failure, so diet is individualized for each child and usually not restricted unless needed. Children grow fastest during the first two years of life. The earlier the age at which kidney disease occurs...

Epidemiology Gout has been steadily increasing worldwide, and is now the most common type of inflammatory arthropathy in adults.1 In the United States alone, its prevalence more than doubled between the 1960s and the1990s,2,3 and it is now estimated at 3.9% of U.S. adults (8.3 million adults — 6.1...

Being a teenager can be tough with or without kidney disease.  But having kidney disease can make it even harder. The good news? Learning to cope with your feelings can help.  It can make the extra challenge of living with kidney disease easier. Why are my emotions all over the place?...

If your child has been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, you are no doubt feeling distressed and bewildered. These feelings are normal. And once you realize that your child's illness is a reality the family must accept, you can develop some practical ways to cope with the day-to-day aspects of...

Diabetic kidney disease is a decrease in kidney function that occurs in some people who have diabetes. It means that your kidneys are not doing their job as well as they once did to remove waste products and excess fluid from your body. These wastes can build up in your body and cause damage to...

Choosing soy protein (such as tofu and soy beans) and other vegetable protein sources instead of meats may mean a lower risk of kidney disease for people with Type 2 diabetes. Vegetarian diets may decrease the amount of protein lost in urine, the renal acid load, and renal hyperfiltration. This is...

By Laura Byham-Gray, PhD, RD, CNSD Diabetes and the Kidney Keeping in good blood glucose control is important for lowering your risk for health complications. Glucose, often described as sugar, is made by the body, usually after eating, and serves as the fuel for every body cell. Diabetes mellitus...

What is HIV? HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that infects and damages your immune system. Your immune system helps your body defend itself against infection and other disease. HIV attacks and destroys the disease-fighting cells of your immune system and leaves your body weak against...

What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol in certain amounts. Your body can make cholesterol as well as get it from eating meats and other animal food products. Too much cholesterol in the blood is bad. Why is too much cholesterol...

What is Fabry Disease? Fabry disease is a rare disorder that happens when the body lacks an important enzyme called alpha-galactosidase A (alpha GAL). This enzyme breaks down certain fats so they can be removed from cells and passed out of the body or be recycled for other functions. When alpha GAL...

What is minimal change disease? Many diseases can affect your kidney function by attacking and damaging the glomeruli, the tiny filtering units inside your kidney where blood is cleaned. The conditions that affect your glomeruli are called glomerular diseases. One of these conditions is minimal...

What is glomerular disease? Your kidneys may be small, but they perform many vital functions that help maintain your overall health, including filtering waste and excess fluids from your blood. Your kidneys have about one million tiny filter units called nephrons. Each nephron has a glomerulus, so...

Thin basement membrane disease (TBMD) is an inherited disorder that mainly affects the glomeruli, which are tiny tufts of capillaries (small blood vessels) in the kidneys that filter wastes from the blood. It is a rare disorder that has been diagnosed in less than 1 percent of the population. The...

Good dental care is important for everyone, but especially for people with kidney disease. What might be a minor infection for a healthy person could be major problem for someone with kidney disease. Here’s a bit to explain more:   Germs attack (that’s infection). The body fights back (...

Can people with kidney disease or kidney failure still enjoy sex? It's important to remember that people with kidney failure can have healthy marriages and meaningful relationships. They can fall in love, care for families, and be sexual. Staying intimate with those you love is important. It's...

What is lithium? Lithium is a common medicine used to help calm mood for treating people with mental disorders. Since such disorders need lifelong treatment, long-term use of lithium may be harmful to organs, such as the kidneys. How does lithium cause kidney damage? Lithium may cause problems with...