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What are Kidneys?
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that play a vital role in filtering the blood. Kidneys are part of the urinary system. The kidneys help in balancing bod fluids and electrolytes (sodium and potassium).
What are The Functions of Kidneys?
The kidneys eliminate waste and excess fluid from the body. They are responsible for maintaining acid-base balance and ensure a proper level of water, salts, and minerals like sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium in the blood. Optimal levels are crucial for the normal functioning of nerves, muscles, and other tissues in the body.
The kidneys also secrete hormone that help:
1. Control the blood pressure
2. Make red blood cells
3. Keep the bones strong and healthy
What is Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic kidney disease (CKD), also known as chronic kidney failure, is a condition characterized by a gradual decline in kidney function. Advanced chronic kidney disease may cause the severe accumulation of fluid, electrolytes, and waste levels in the body.
What are The Causes of Chronic Kidney Disease?
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) develops because of a disease or condition that disrupts kidney function, leading to a gradual deterioration of kidney health over an extended period.
1. Diabetes: High blood sugar levels over an extended period can damage the small blood vessels in the kidneys, leading to kidney damage.
2. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Elevated blood pressure can strain the blood vessels in the kidneys, causing damage over time.
3. Glomerulonephritis: This refers to inflammation of the kidney's filtering units (glomeruli). It can be caused by infections, autoimmune diseases, or other conditions.
4. Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD): A genetic disorder where cysts develop in the kidneys, interfering with their normal function.
5. Obstructive Nephropathy: Conditions that cause urinary tract obstructions, such as kidney stones or an enlarged prostate, can lead to kidney damage.
6. Recurrent Kidney Infections: Frequent or severe kidney infections can cause scarring and damage to the kidneys.
7. Systemic Diseases: Conditions like lupus, vasculitis, and other autoimmune diseases can affect the kidneys.
8. Long-term Use of Certain Medications: Some medications, especially nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and certain antibiotics, can contribute to kidney damage if used over extended periods.
9. Exposure to Nephrotoxic Substances: Certain toxins and chemicals, such as heavy metals and some solvents, can damage the kidneys.
10. Aging: The natural aging process can contribute to a gradual decline in kidney function.
What are The Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease?
In the early stages, CKD may not cause noticeable symptoms, or the symptoms may be subtle. As the disease progresses, symptoms may become more apparent. Common symptoms of chronic kidney disease include:
1. Fatigue: Feeling consistently tired or weak.
2. Swelling: Accumulation of fluid in the legs, ankles, or around the eyes (edema).
3. Changes in Urination: Changes in the frequency and quantity of urination, including increased or decreased urine output, foamy urine, or urine that is dark or contains blood.
4. Hypertension (High Blood Pressure): Kidneys play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure, and as they are affected by CKD, blood pressure may rise.
5. Difficulty Concentrating: Cognitive difficulties and trouble concentrating may occur.
6. Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss: A decline in appetite, coupled with unintended weight loss.
7. Muscle Cramps and Twitching: Restless legs, muscle cramps, or twitching may occur, especially in the legs.
8. Itching: Persistent itching, often due to the buildup of waste products in the blood.
9. Sleep Problems: Difficulty sleeping or restless sleep.
10. Shortness of Breath: Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, often due to fluid buildup in the lungs.
What Tests are Done to Diagnose Kidney Diseases?
There are various tests used to diagnose kidney disease:
1. Estimated Glomerular filtration rate (GFR): Glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a test used to check how well the kidneys are working. Specifically, it estimates how much blood passes through the glomeruli each minute. Glomeruli are extremely small structures inside the kidneys that filter the blood.
2. Urine Examination: A urinalysis is a group of physical, chemical, and microscopic tests. The tests detect and measure several substances in the urine including glucose, protein, bilirubin, red blood cells, white blood cells, crystals, and bacteria.
3. Protein Creatinine Ratio, Urine: A urine protein test is often used to screen for, help evaluate, and monitor kidney function and to help detect and diagnose early kidney disease. Urine Protein-Creatinine ratio is a simple & convenient method to quantitate & monitor proteinuria in adults with chronic kidney disease.
4. Microalbumin Creatinine Ratio: This test is useful in the management of patients with early Diabetes mellitus to assist in avoiding or delaying the onset of renal disease.
5. Kidney Panel, KFT: A kidney panel is a group of tests that may be performed together to evaluate kidney function. The tests measure levels of various substances, including:
1. Electrolytes are electrically charged chemicals that are vital to normal body processes. Electrolytes include:
1. Sodium
2. Potassium
3. Chloride
2. Albumin: A protein essential to keeping fluid from leaking out of blood vessels and transporting hormones, vitamins, drugs, and ions like calcium throughout the body.
3. Waste products
1. Urea, a nitrogen-containing waste product that forms from the metabolism of protein
2. Creatinine, produced by the body's muscles. Almost all creatinine is eliminated by the kidneys.
3. Uric Acid, the end product of protein metabolism.
4. A:G Ratio, the calculated ratio of albumin to globulins. It may provide a clue as to the cause of the change in protein levels.
5. Bun/Creatinine Ratio
6. Calcium Total
7. Chloride
8. GFR category
9. GFR Estimated
10. Globulin (Calculated)
11. Phosphorus
12. Total Protein
13. Urea Nitrogen Blood
6. Creatinine Clearance Test: Creatinine clearance reflects the glomerular filtration rate, the ability of kidneys to filter waste products. A moderate decrease in renal function is detected by creatinine clearance. It also monitors the progression of renal disease.
7. Uric Acid: Uric acid is the end product of protein metabolism. The uric acid blood test is used to diagnose the cause of recurrent kidney stones and to monitor people with gout.
8. Beta-2 Microglobulin: Beta-2 microglobulin is a protein that is found on the surface of nucleated cells and functions as part of the human immune system. The beta-2 microglobulin test may be used when known physical or suspected kidney damage occurs to distinguish between glomerular and tubular disorders of the kidney.
9. Vitamin D 1, 25-Dihydroxy: A low level of 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D can be seen in kidney disease and is one of the earliest changes to occur in persons with early kidney failure.
10. Kidney Scans
Kidney scans may include a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, computed tomography (CT) scan, or an ultrasound scan. The aim is to determine whether there are any blockages in the urine flow. These scans can also reveal the size and shape of the kidneys.
11. Kidney Biopsy: A small sample of kidney tissue is extracted and examined for cell damage. An analysis of kidney tissue makes it easier to make a precise diagnosis of kidney disease.
