Search the A to Z Guide

Working is very important to many people who have kidney failure, also known as end stage renal disease (ESRD). It can help them to have a feeling of value to their families, to society and to themselves. As an employer, you probably have many questions about how hiring or continuing to employ...

Many people have been led to believe that you can’t be a vegetarian or follow a mainly plant-based diet if you have kidney disease. But recent studies suggest that people with kidney disease can follow a plant-based or vegetarian diet if they know how to do it wisely. These types of diets may help...

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/...

Being a teenager is hard.  Dealing with kidney disease can make it feel even more challenging. You are probably taking at least one medication, maybe more. Remembering to take your medications every day and at the right time is not always easy.  It may seem as if the other parts of your...

Though dialysis is the preferred choice for some people, many other people with kidney failure choose to have a kidney transplant. Transplantation has many advantages, such as a lifestyle free from dialysis and fewer fluid and dietary restrictions. Kidney transplants, when successful, usually...

By Jennifer S. Scherer, M.D.   A few years ago, I left my nephrology private practice because I was driven to do more for my patients. Throughout my training and career in nephrology, I had been intensely aware of how kidney patients – even those doing well – often have poor quality of...

Mineral and Bone Disorder: if you have kidney disease or kidney failure This brochure focuses on the impact of early stage CKD on bone health, the disease cascade and consequences of CKD mineral and bone disorder (MBD), the connection between CKD-MBD and heart disease...

Good health care is always a team effort - especially for people with chronic kidney failure. Since each member of the health care staff contributes to your care, it is important for you and your family to build a good working relationship with them. The health care team will probably include:...

Good health care is always a team effort—especially for people with chronic kidney disease. This fact sheet tells you about the health professionals who care for dialysis patients. For information about the health care professionals who care for transplant recipients, see “Your Transplant Care Team...

Your comprehensive guide to kidney disease and related conditions and topics.

What is a clinical trial? A clinical trial is a research study that looks at how well a new treatment works in people.  This is called “efficacy.”  The treatment may be a drug, medical procedure, medical device, or even a lifestyle change.  A clinical trial also makes sure the new...

Choosing plant-based foods instead of meats may help prevent and treat chronic kidney disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

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...

It is not uncommon for children to sometimes have blood in their urine (pee). Sometimes, it can change the color of the urine. Blood in a child's urine can have different causes, many of which go away on their own or are easily treated. What is hematuria? Blood in the urine is called hematuria....