Kidney Diseases Summary Your kidneys are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of your fists. They are located near the middle of your back, just below the rib cage. Inside each kidney about a million tiny structures called nephrons filter blood. They remove waste products and extra water, which become urine. The urine flows through tubes called ureters 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 are at greater risk for 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: Cancer Cysts Stones Infections Your doctor can run tests to find out if you have kidney disease. If your kidneys fail completely, a kidney transplant or dialysis can replace the work your kidneys normally do. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Array 24-hour urine protein Abdominal tap ACE inhibitors Acid loading test (pH) Acute nephritic syndrome Albumin – blood (serum) test Analgesic nephropathy Atheroembolic renal disease Bartter syndrome Basic metabolic panel Bilateral hydronephrosis BUN Congenital nephrotic syndrome Distal renal tubular acidosis Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis Glomerular filtration rate Glomerulonephritis Goodpasture syndrome IgA nephropathy Injury – kidney and ureter Interstitial nephritis Kidney biopsy Kidney removal Kidney removal – slideshow Kidney removal – discharge Kidneys and How They Work National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Medicines and Kidney Disease National Kidney Disease Education Program Membranoproliferative GN I Membranous nephropathy Microalbuminuria test Minimal change disease Nephrocalcinosis Nephrotic syndrome Obstructive uropathy Perirenal abscess Protein urine test Proximal renal tubular acidosis Reflux nephropathy Renal arteriography Renal papillary necrosis Renal perfusion scintiscan Renal scan Renal vein thrombosis Renal venogram Total protein Unilateral hydronephrosis Urinary casts Encyclopedia Abdominal CT scan Acute arterial occlusion – kidney Aging changes in the kidneys Alport syndrome Amylase – urine Anti-glomerular basement membrane Calcium – ionized Calcium – urine Calcium blood test Chloride – urine test Citric acid urine test CO2 blood test Fanconi syndrome Fractional excretion of sodium Hemoglobinuria test High potassium level Immunoelectrophoresis – urine Intravenous pyelogram Low potassium level Phosphorus blood test Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis (GN) Potassium urine test Protein electrophoresis – serum Protein electrophoresis – urine RBC urine test Sodium urine test TBG – blood test UPJ obstruction Urea nitrogen urine test Uric acid – blood Uric acid – urine Urine – bloody Urine 24-hour volume Patient Handouts Abdominal MRI Diagnosis and Tests Abdominal Ultrasound Array Albumin Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Alport Syndrome Diagnosis Alport Syndrome Foundation Blood in Urine (Hematuria) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research BUN Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Calcium Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Cystoscopy and Ureteroscopy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases eGFR American Association for Clinical Chemistry Hematuria (Blood in the Urine) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP) Array Kidney Biopsy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Magnesium Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry MedlinePlus: Creatinine Microscopic Hematuria American Academy of Family Physicians Protein Electrophoresis/Immunofixation Electrophoresis American Association for Clinical Chemistry Renal Scintigraphy Radiological Society of North America Testing for Kidney Disease National Kidney Disease Education Program Total Protein and Albumin/Globulin Ratio Test American Association for Clinical Chemistry Urinalysis American Association for Clinical Chemistry Specifics Alport Syndrome National Kidney Foundation Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Glomerular Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Goodpasture Syndrome 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 Related Issues Analgesic Nephropathy (Painkillers and the Kidneys) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 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 Proteinuria National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Renal Disease and Adult Vaccination Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Children Blood in the Urine (Hematuria) (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Childhood Nephrotic Syndrome National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases Detecting Kidney and Urinary Tract Abnormalities Before Birth National Kidney Foundation Glomerulonephritis (For Parents) Nemours Foundation Nephrotic Syndrome Nemours Foundation Overview of Kidney Diseases 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 Urine Blockage in Newborns National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse Your Child Has Hydronephrosis National Kidney 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 Nephrectomy (Kidney Removal) Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Living With Diet and Lifestyle Changes National Kidney Disease Education Program Low Phosphorus Diet: Best for Kidney Disease? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research Phosphorous and Your CKD Diet National Kidney Foundation Find an Expert Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse Find a Urologist Urology Care Foundation 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 Statistics and Research FastStats: Kidney Disease National Center for Health Statistics Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases New Study Shows 59 Percent of Americans Will Develop Kidney Disease in Their Lifetime National Kidney Foundation Genetics Genetics Home Reference: Alport syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: atypical hemolytic-uremic syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Bardet-Biedl syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Bartter syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: branchiootorenal/branchiootic syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: C3 glomerulopathy National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: complete LCAT deficiency National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: cystinosis National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Dent disease National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Denys-Drash syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Frasier syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Gitelman syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: hereditary xanthinuria National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Lowe syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Mainzer-Saldino syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: medullary cystic kidney disease type 1 National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: MYH9-related disorder National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: nail-patella syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: REN-related kidney disease National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: renal coloboma syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: renal hypouricemia National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: renal tubular acidosis with deafness National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: renal tubular dysgenesis National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Senior-Løken syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: SLC4A1-associated distal renal tubular acidosis National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: Townes-Brocks Syndrome National Library of Medicine Genetics Home Reference: uromodulin-associated kidney disease National Library of Medicine Prevention and Risk Factors Keep Your Kidneys Healthy National Kidney Disease Education Program Monitoring Your Kidney Health National Kidney Disease Education Program Start Here Keep Your Kidneys Healthy: Catch Kidney Disease Early National Institutes of Health Seniors Kidney Problems AGS Foundation for Health in Aging 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 Journal Articles Kidney Diseases Latest News High-Salt Diets May Raise Heart Risks for Kidney Patients HealthDay Common Heartburn Drugs Linked to Kidney Disease in Study HealthDay Smoking Harms Black Americans’ Kidneys, Study Suggests HealthDay A Few Key Steps Can Protect Your Heart and Kidneys HealthDay
