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Hemodialysis is a treatment used when your kidneys fail (Stage 5 Kidney Disease) and can no longer clean your blood and remove extra fluid from your body. A hemodialysis access or vascular access is a way to reach your blood for hemodialysis. If you receive hemodialysis, your access is one of the...

Heart disease is very common in people with kidney disease or kidney failure.  In fact, it is the leading cause of death in people with kidney failure.  But there are things you can do to keep your heart and blood vessels healthy.  If you already have heart disease?  You can...

What is a simultaneous kidney-pancreas transplant (SKP)? A kidney-pancreas transplant is an operation to place both a kidney and a pancreas — at the same time — into someone who has kidney failure related to type 1 diabetes. In many cases, both transplanted organs may come from one deceased donor....

Good health care is always a team effort—especially for transplant recipients. You and your family are the most important members of the transplant care team. You can take an active role in your care by learning all you can and taking part in your treatment plan. Since each member of the health...

What do you know about metabolic acidosis and chronic kidney disease? This short quiz can help you understand why people with CKD have increased risk for metabolic acidosis, and why and how metabolic acidosis makes kidney disease worse. Take a short quiz...

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:...

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...

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-...

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 interstitial cystitis? Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a disorder in which the bladder (the organ that stores urine before it is passed out of the body) is overly sensitive, and usual causes for this, such as infection, cannot be found. The major symptoms are: pain in the pelvic area urgent...

People with kidney disease or kidney failure are at risk for heart disease.  In fact, it is very common. These ten tips can help you lower your risk for getting heart disease —or help keep heart disease from getting worse.  Tip 1:  Control Blood Sugar If You Have Diabetes ...

The information on this page has been design for health professionals as a place to get up-to-date research, educational resources and articles on the subject of Hyperkalemia. Facts About Hyperkalemia Facts and statistics that journalists, public health officials, clinicians, healthcare...

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...

By Carrie A. Schinstock, M.D. Antibodies are important, right? Our immune system naturally forms antibodies as a protective response against bacteria and viruses. In the context of transplantation, antibodies are good when they are ready to attack foreign invaders that can lead to illness, but...

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...

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...

What are parathyroid glands? Parathyroid glands are four small glands that are located near the thyroid gland in your neck. They are each about the size of a pea. The parathyroid glands make and release parathyroid hormone (hormones are secretions made by your body to help your body work and keep...

As a patient beginning peritoneal dialysis treatments, you are adjusting to many changes in your daily life. Your healthcare professional has probably told you that some changes in your diet will be necessary. Why will you have to follow a special diet? Because your kidneys are not able to get...