Kidney Definitions | Renal Dictionary | Common Terms used to describe the Kidney and Kidney Disease
Diseases and Conditions
autoimmune (AW-toh-ih-MYOON) disease: A disease in which the body’s own disease-fighting cells attack the body itself. hypertension (HY-per-TEN-shun): High blood pressure, a condition that can cause kidney damage or be caused by kidney disease. idiopathic (id-ee-o-PATH-ik) disease: A disease that occurs without a known cause. nephrotoxic (NEF-ro-TOKS-ik): Damaging to the kidneys. sclerotic (skleh-ROT-ik) disease: A disease in which tissues become hardened or scarred. systemic (sis-TEM-ik) disease: A disease that affects multiple parts of the body, often as a result of substances circulating in the blood.
Treatments and Procedures
biopsy (BY-op-see): A procedure in which a needle is used to obtain small pieces of tissue from an organ for examination under different types of microscopes, each of which shows a different aspect of the tissue. dialysis (dy-AL-ih-sis): A medical treatment that removes wastes and extra fluid from the blood after the kidneys have stopped working. immunosuppressant (im-YOON-oh-suh-PRESS-unt): A medicine given to block the body’s immune system. plasmapheresis (PLAZ-muh-fer-EE-sis): A medical treatment in which the blood is treated outside the body to remove harmful antibodies, and then returned to the patient.
Kidney Parts and Organic Substances
antibody (AN-tee-BOD-ee): A molecule that protects the body against disease by attacking foreign tissues or organisms. Antibodies are also called immunoglobulins. antigen (AN-tih-jen): A substance that triggers a response from the body’s immune system. autoantibody (AW-toh-AN-tee-bod-ee): An antibody that attacks the body itself. creatinine (kree-AT-ih-nin): A waste product in the blood that results from the normal breakdown of muscle. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine from the blood. glomerulus (gloh-MEHR-yoo-lus): The tiny cluster of looping blood vessels in the nephron, where wastes are filtered from the blood. lipid (LIP-id): One of several fatty substances used in cells. Excess lipids in the blood may result in harmful deposits in blood vessels. nephron (NEF-rahn): One of a million tiny filtering units in each kidney. Each nephron is made up of both a glomerulus and a fluid-collecting tubule that processes extra water and wastes. protein (PRO-teen): A substance found in food and used by the body to grow, repair tissue, and fight disease. urea (yoo-REE-uh): A waste material found in blood after protein has been broken down. Healthy kidneys remove urea from the blood. Damaged kidneys may allow urea to accumulate in the blood, thus causing uremia.
Signs and Symptoms of Glomerulonephritis
edema (eh-DEE-muh): Swelling caused by the accumulation of fluid in cells and tissues. In kidney failure, fluid may collect in the feet, hands, abdomen, or face. hematuria (HEE-muh-TOOR-ee-uh): Blood in the urine. Blood may turn the urine pink or cola-colored. hypoproteinemia (HY-po-PRO-teen-EE-mee-uh): Reduced levels of protein in the blood. proteinuria (PRO-tee-NOOR-ee-uh): Large amounts of protein in the urine. uremia (yoo-REE-mee-uh): Accumulation of urea and other wastes in the blood. These wastes, which become toxic in large amounts, are normally eliminated through urination.
Adapted from:
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
New Feature from Hemodialysis.com: Hemodialysis or Chronic Kidney Disease Abstract of the Week
Association of Cumulatively Low or High Serum Calcium Levels with Mortality in Long-Term Hemodialysis Patients.
Am J Nephrol. 2010 Sep 3;32(5):403-413.
Miller JE, Kovesdy CP, Norris KC, Mehrotra R, Nissenson AR, Kopple JD, Kalantar-Zadeh K.
Harold Simmons Center for Kidney Disease Research and Epidemiology,Torrance, Calif., USA.
Abstract
Background: The outcome-predictability of baseline and instantaneously changing serum calcium in hemodialysis patients has been examined. We investigated the mortality-predictability of time-averaged calcium values to reflect the 'cumulative' effect of calcium burden over time. Methods: We employed a Cox model using up-to-5-year (7/2001-6/2006) time-averaged values to examine the mortality-predictability of cumulative serum calcium levels in 107,200 hemodialysis patients prior to the use of calcimimetics, but during the time where other calcium-lowering interventions, including lower dialysate calcium, were employed.
Results: Both low (<9.0 mg/dl) and high (>10.0 mg/dl) calcium levels were associated with increased mortality (reference: 9.0 to <9.5 mg/dl). Whereas mortality of hypercalcemia was consistent, hypocalcemia mortality was most prominent with higher serum phosphorus (>3.5 mg/dl) and PTH levels (>150 pg/ml).
Higher paricalcitol doses shifted the calcium range associated with the greatest survival to the right, i.e. from 9.0 to <9.5 to 9.5 to <10.0 mg/dl. African-Americans exhibited the highest death hazard ratio of hypocalcemia <8.5 mg/dl, being 1.35 (95% CI: 1.22-1.49). Both a rise and drop in serum calcium over 6 months were associated with increased mortality compared to the stable group.
Conclusions: Whereas in hemodialysis patients cumulatively high or low calcium levels are associated with higher death risk, subtle but meaningful interactions with phosphorus, PTH, paricalcitol dose and race exist.
Hemodialysis | Kidney Disease | Dialysis Resources and Educational Materials
100 Q&A About Kidney Disease and Hypertension
Raymond R. Townsend, MD
High blood pressure is one of the leading causes of kidney failure. Each year, high blood pressure causes more than 25,000 new cases of kidney failure in the United States. 100 Questions & Answers About Kidney Disease and Hypertension offers authoritative, up-to-date, practical answers about kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, transplants, and dialysis. The book is an invaluable resource for anyone coping with the physical and emotional turmoil of this condition.
Handbook of Dialysis Therapy
Here's an in-depth, quick-reference, problem-solving resource for those involved in the care of dialysis patients. More than 120 world-class authorities discuss dialysis techniques, mechanical considerations, and complications related to various diseases for both pediatric and adult patients. Selected annotated references and excellent cross-referencing between chapters help you find answers fast, and more than 100 photos, drawings, charts, and tables, mostly in color, clarify complex topics. Providing practical, immediately useful guidelines that can be applied directly to patient care, this book is a "must-have" for all dialysis caregivers.
Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Secrets Study Guide: CHT Test Review for the Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam
Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Secrets helps you ace the Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam, without weeks and months of endless studying. Our comprehensive Certified Hemodialysis Technologist/Technician Exam Secrets study guide is written by our exam experts.....
Dialysis and Hemodialysis Book and Descriptions from Amazon.com
Please visit the Hemodialysis.com Google Ad Sponsors
The information on Hemodialysis is for informational purposes only and is not intended as specific medical advice or to be a substitute for medical advice from your physician or health care provider. Please check with a physician if you need a diagnosis and/or for treatments as well as information regarding your specific condition.
Please read Medical Disclaimer as term of condition for usage of this website.
If you are experiencing urgent medical conditions, call 9-1-1
Copyright 2010 EminentDomains.com®. All Rights Reserved.
Our Success is Linked to Your Success®
