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When a family member develops kidney failure, the whole family is affected, even if they don't all show it. Everyone has questions about how kidney failure will affect their own and the patient's life and future plans. If a parent develops kidney failure, children have questions too. Some children...

Introduction What is an Advance Directive? Advance Directives and Dialysis Other Important Points Discussion Topics Other Resources Checklist of Things to Consider Introduction Today, medical advances have made it possible for people with chronic illness to have successful treatment, improving...

Introduction What is an Advance Directive? I’m 18 Years Old…Why Do I Need an Advance Directive? Advance Directives and Dialysis Other Important Points Discussion Topics Other Resources Introduction The Patient Self-Determination Act, in effect since 1991, gives adults with the capacity to make...

Pathophysiology Nephropathic cystinosis is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder. It is a rare disease with a lifelong impact on the patient. The yearly incidence of nephropathic cystinosis is ~1:150,000 to 200,000 live births and its prevalence is ~1.6 per million population.1 However the...

What is High Potassium (Hyperkalemia)? High levels of potassium in the blood (called hyperkalemia) is unpredictable and can be life-threatening. It can cause serious heart problems and sudden death.1-3 There are often no warning signs, meaning a person can have high potassium without knowing it....

Having too much water in your body is called fluid overload or hypervolemia. One of the main functions of the kidneys is to balance fluid in the body. If too much fluid builds up in your body, it can have harmful effects on your health, such as difficulty breathing and swelling. When you are on...

Before dialysis was available, total kidney failure meant death. Today, people with kidney failure can live because of treatments such as dialysis and kidney transplant.