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Kidney Diseases
Summary
You have two kidneys, each about the size of your fist. They are near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney there are about a million tiny structures called nephrons. They filter your blood. They remove wastes and extra water, which become urine. The urine flows through tubes called ureters. It goes to your bladder, which stores the urine until you go to the bathroom.
Most kidney diseases attack the nephrons. This damage may leave kidneys unable to remove wastes. Causes can include genetic problems, injuries, or medicines. You have a higher risk of kidney disease if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a close family member with kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease damages the nephrons slowly over several years. Other kidney problems include:
Your doctor can do blood and urine tests to check if you have kidney disease. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Genetics
- 17q12 deletion syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Action myoclonus-renal failure syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Alport syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Bardet-Biedl syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Bartter syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Branchiootorenal/branchiootic syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- C3 glomerulopathy: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Complete LCAT deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Congenital anomalies of kidney and urinary tract: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Congenital nephrotic syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Cystinosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Dent disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Denys-Drash syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Frasier syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Gitelman syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Hyperphosphatemic familial tumoral calcinosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Lowe syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Mainzer-Saldino syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Medullary cystic kidney disease type 1: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Nail-patella syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- REN-related kidney disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Renal coloboma syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Renal hypouricemia: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Renal tubular acidosis with deafness: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Renal tubular dysgenesis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Senior-Løken syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Townes-Brocks Syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Uromodulin-associated kidney disease: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Statistics and Research
- A Better Test for Kidney Disease National Institutes of Health
- FastStats: Kidney Disease National Center for Health Statistics
- Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Patient Handouts
- ACE inhibitors Medical Encyclopedia
- Acute nephritic syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Analgesic nephropathy Medical Encyclopedia
- Atheroembolic renal disease Medical Encyclopedia
- Bartter syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Bilateral hydronephrosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Congenital nephrotic syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Distal renal tubular acidosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Glomerulonephritis Medical Encyclopedia
- Goodpasture syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Hydronephrosis of one kidney Medical Encyclopedia
- IgA nephropathy Medical Encyclopedia
- Injury – kidney and ureter Medical Encyclopedia
- Interstitial nephritis Medical Encyclopedia
- Kidney removal Medical Encyclopedia
- Kidney removal – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Membranoproliferative GN I Medical Encyclopedia
- Membranous nephropathy Medical Encyclopedia
- Minimal change disease Medical Encyclopedia
- Nephrocalcinosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Nephrotic syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Obstructive uropathy Medical Encyclopedia
- Perirenal abscess Medical Encyclopedia
- Proximal renal tubular acidosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Reflux nephropathy Medical Encyclopedia
- Renal papillary necrosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Renal vein thrombosis Medical Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
- Acute arterial occlusion – kidney Medical Encyclopedia
- Aging changes in the kidneys Medical Encyclopedia
- Alport syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Fanconi syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Fractional excretion of sodium Medical Encyclopedia
- High potassium level Medical Encyclopedia
- Low potassium level Medical Encyclopedia
- Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (GN) Medical Encyclopedia
- Renal perfusion scintiscan Medical Encyclopedia
- UPJ obstruction Medical Encyclopedia
Specifics
- Alport Syndrome National Kidney Foundation
- Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Anti-GBM (Goodpasture’s) Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Glomerular Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- IgA Nephropathy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Interstitial Nephritis American Academy of Family Physicians
- Lupus Nephritis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Nephrotic Syndrome Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Nephrotic Syndrome in Adults National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Renal Tubular Acidosis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Solitary Kidney National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Diagnosis and Tests
- Alport Syndrome Diagnosis Alport Syndrome Foundation
- Creatinine Test National Library of Medicine
- Kidney Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
- Urinalysis: MedlinePlus Health Topic National Library of Medicine
Related Issues
- Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Ectopic Kidney National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Hydronephrosis National Kidney Foundation
- Keeping Kidneys Safe: Smart Choices about Medicines National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Pain Medicines (Analgesics) National Kidney Foundation
- Renal Disease and Adult Vaccination Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Children
- Blood in the Urine (Hematuria) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Glomerulonephritis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
- Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome in Children National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Hydronephrosis in Newborns National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
- Kidney Disease in Children National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Nephrotic Syndrome Nemours Foundation
- Nephrotic Syndrome in Children National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Proteinuria in Children American Academy of Family Physicians
- Renal Tubular Acidosis Nemours Foundation
- Ultrasound: Renal (Kidneys, Ureters, Bladder) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Kidney Diseases National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Nephritis National Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Polycystic Kidney Diseases National Institutes of Health
Treatments and Therapies
- Dandelion National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Kidney removal (nephrectomy) – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia
- Nephrectomy (Kidney Removal) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Keep Your Kidneys Healthy National Kidney Disease Education Program
Older Adults
- Kidney Problems AGS Health in Aging Foundation
Videos and Tutorials
- Kidney School Life Options Rehabilitation Program
Teenagers
- Kidneys and Urinary Tract Nemours Foundation
Reference Desk
- Kidneys and Urinary Tract (For Parents) Nemours Foundation
Health Check Tools
- Kidneys and Your Health: Kidney Health Assessment Quiz National Kidney Foundation
Living With
- Low Phosphorus Diet: Helpful for Kidney Disease? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Phosphorous and Your CKD Diet National Kidney Foundation
Find an Expert
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- National Kidney Disease Education Program National Kidney Disease Education Program
- National Kidney Foundation National Kidney Foundation
Journal Articles
Start Here
- Your Kidneys and How They Work National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases