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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...

What is hematuria? Hematuria means that red blood cells are in the urine. Urine does not normally contain red blood cells because the filters in the kidney prevent blood from entering the urine. In hematuria, the filters or other parts of the urinary tract allow blood to leak into the urine....

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...

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...

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...

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...

I’ve heard different terms for not receiving dialysis. What do they mean? You may have heard of stopping or not starting dialysis. This is also called “conservative care” or “medical management.” This type of care can meet different goals depending on your specific needs and overall health....

dRTA (distal Renal Tubular Acidosis) - a resource center for patients and their families. dRTA is a rare type of kidney disease that can have a have major impact on a person’s health throughout their life. National Kidney Foundation has created this website to raise awareness and understanding...

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...

Urinary tract infections are responsible for nearly 10 million healthcare visits each year. Here’s what you need to know. What is the urinary tract? The urinary system (also called the “urinary tract”) is the part of your body that makes urine.  It is made up of two kidneys, the ureters, the...

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.

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