Here are brief descriptions of some of the most common kidney conditions. Click one of the links below to learn more.
Diabetic Kidney DiseaseHigh Blood PressureGlomerulonephritisPolycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)Analgesic NephropathyInterstitial NephritisNephrotic SyndromeProstate Problems Diabetic Kidney Disease
Diabetes is the single leading cause of kidney failure in the United States. Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s
ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of the body
and be used for energy. Nephropathy, also called diabetic kidney disease, is a condition that affects one-third or more of
people who have had Type 1 (juvenile) diabetes for at least 20 years. About 10 to 40 percent of people with Type 2 (adult
onset) diabetes also have kidney disease.
In the United States diabetes is more common among certain ethnic groups, including: African-Americans, Hispanics, Pacific
Islanders and Native Americans. The disease is extremely prevalent in the African-American community. Approximately 13 percent
of all African-Americans have diabetes and one-third of this group are unaware that they have the disease. African-Americans
suffer from kidney failure about four times more often than other ethnic groups.
Treatment for diabetic kidney disease focuses on slowing the progression to kidney failure. Controlling high blood pressure
and blood sugar levels, participating in a doctor-supervised exercise and weight loss program and eating a special diet can
help.
When kidney failure develops, the kidneys lose their ability to remove waste products from the body. The first signs of nephropathy
are small amounts of protein in the urine and elevated levels of creatinine (a waste product) in the blood. Unfortunately,
most people do not experience symptoms until their kidneys have lost much of their ability to function.
When kidneys function at only five to ten percent of their capacity, they can no longer process most of the waste in the body
and cannot sustain a person’s life. This condition is called end-stage renal disease. Treatment options include either kidney
dialysis or transplantation. In most cases, renal transplantation is often preferred for a better quality of life.
Click here for information about the Gutman Diabetes Institute at Albert Einstein Medical Center.
Are you at Risk for Diabetes?
Diabetes is a major risk factor for kidney disease. There are 18.2 million Americans with diabetes – and nearly one-third
of them (5.2 million people) do not know it. Click here to take the American Diabetes Association’s test to find out if you are at risk for developing diabetes. African-Americans,
Latinos, Native Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are at higher risk for developing diabetes.
Back to Top
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. This pressure moves blood from the heart
to organs, including the brain, kidneys and stomach. High blood pressure occurs when the force of blood against your artery
walls increases.
Uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure is the second leading cause of chronic kidney failure in the United
States. Many people are unaware of the association between high blood pressure and kidney disease. Severe high blood pressure
can damage kidneys quickly. However, even moderately high blood pressure can cause kidney failure over the course of several
years. Often, people with slightly high blood pressure have no symptoms until their kidneys have been irreversibly damaged.
Blood pressure consistently over 120/70 can place you at greater risk of developing kidney disease because it puts more stress
on your kidneys. Older people, African-Americans, people who are overweight, people with a family history of high blood pressure
and people with diabetes are at a higher risk for developing high blood pressure.
Back to Top
Glomerulonephritis
This condition is the third leading cause of end-stage kidney disease in the United States. It is a disease that damages the
glomeruli — the kidneys’ filtering units. In many cases, the cause of this disease is unknown. Some cases may be inherited
and others may be triggered by an infection.
Back to Top
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
This term refers to an inherited disease that is sometimes called “adult PKD” since it usually appears in adulthood. There
is a less common type of PKD that mainly occurs in babies and children. In PKD, cysts (pouches filled with fluid) are found
in the kidney, but they can also affect other organs such as the liver, pancreas, spleen and ovaries. People who have PKD
may not be aware that they have a problem until they are 30 to 40 years old. Common symptoms include: high blood pressure,
back or side pain, an increase in the size of the abdomen or blood in the urine. About 50 percent of people with PKD will
develop kidney failure by age 60; about 60 percent will develop it by age 70.
Back to Top
Analgesic Nephropathy
This condition is kidney failure which results from taking large amounts of over-the-counter medicines such as aspirin, acetaminophen
or ibuprofen, for a prolonged period of time. Every medication we take, whether prescription or over-the-counter, passes through
the kidneys. Analgesic nephropathy usually results from people self-medicating, perhaps to relieve chronic pain from arthritis
or back pain. These medicines should never be taken on a regular basis without checking with your doctor. Thousands of Americans
have destroyed their kidneys by using excessive amounts of painkillers.
Back to Top
Interstitial Nephritis
This is a kidney disorder caused by inflammation of the tubules and spaces between the tubules and glomeruli. The inflammation
causes lesions that may be temporary (resulting from an allergic reaction or side effect to a medication), or chronic. Medications
commonly associated with this disorder are antibiotics such as penicillin or ampicillin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs. The disorder causes a reduction in kidney function that can range from mild to severe. About half of the people with
interstitial nephritis experience a decrease in urine output.
Back to Top
Nephrotic Syndrome
This condition may occur when the filtering units of the kidneys are damaged. When this occurs, protein normally kept in blood
plasma leaks into the urine in large amounts. This reduces the amount of protein in the blood. Since the protein part of the
blood helps keep fluid in the bloodstream, some of this fluid leaks out of the bloodstream into your tissues, causing swelling
(edema). You may notice swelling in your legs after standing for a while, or in the tissue under your eyes when you wake up
in the morning.
Back to Top
Prostate Problems
Fifty percent of men are affected by prostate problems by ages 51 to 60 and more than 90 percent of men over age 80 are affected.
Men with an enlarged prostate gland may have their urine flow blocked which can cause a urinary tract infection. Chronic urinary
tract infections can damage the kidneys.
Back to Top
