Conditions and Treatments

What Kidneys Do

The kidneys filter the blood and help remove waste and extra fluid from the body, in addition to controlling the chemical balance of the body. The kidneys also play a role in regulating blood pressure, and kidney disease may lead to the development of high blood pressure (hypertension). As with other organs, kidney function may be slightly reduced with aging.

The kidneys are part of the urinary system, which also includes the ureters and the bladder. Bladder control can be affected by muscle changes and changes in the reproductive system.

  

Kidney Disease Kidney disease is classified as any disease or disorder that affects the function of the kidneys. This may include:

Tests and Procedures There are several tests and procedures that are standard in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases.

Acute kidney failure Acute nephritic syndrome Analgesic nephropathy Atheroembolic renal disease Chronic kidney failure Chronic nephritis Congenital nephrotic syndrome End-stage renal disease Goodpasture's syndrome Interstitial nephritis Kidney cancer Kidney damage Kidney infection Kidney injury Kidney stones Lupus nephritis Membranoproliferative GN I Membranoproliferative GN II Membranous nephropathy Minimal change disease Necrotizing glomerulonephritis Nephroblastoma Nephrocalcinosis Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus Nephropathy - IgA Nephrosis (nephrotic syndrome) Polycystic kidney disease Post-streptococcal GN Reflux nephropathy Renal artery embolism Renal artery stenosis Renal disorders Renal papillary necrosis Renal tubular acidosis type I Renal tubular acidosis type II Renal underperfusion Renal vein thrombosis

Tests: Renal scan Renal biopsy Dialysis Hemodialysis Kidney function test Intravenous pyelogram Urinalysis Urinary casts Anti-glomerular basement membrane Renal perfusion scintiscan Fractional excretion of sodium Renal arteriography Protein-urine Ureteral retrograde brush biopsy cytology Abdominal CT scan Abdominal MRI BUN Urine concentration test Procedures: Kidney transplant Kidney removal Lithotripsy