Condition Lookup
Category:
Chronic and Acute Kidney Diseases
Number of Conditions: 6
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Chronic and Acute Kidney Diseases
Symptoms:
decreased urine output; swelling in legs, ankles, or feet; nausea; confusion; fatigue; chest pain or pressure; shortness of breath
Root Cause:
Sudden loss of kidney function due to reduced blood flow, damage to kidney tissue, or blockage of urinary outflow.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (e.g., elevated creatinine), decreased urine output, and imaging studies to identify potential obstructions.
Treatment:
Addressing the underlying cause, restoring fluid balance, removing toxins, and temporary dialysis if needed.
Medications:
Medications may include diuretics (e.g., furosemide ), electrolyte binders (e.g., sodium polystyrene sulfonate ), and vasopressors in cases of low blood pressure.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Occurs in approximately 20% of hospitalized patients; higher risk in critical care settings.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Advanced age, pre-existing kidney disease, diabetes, sepsis, major surgery, or exposure to nephrotoxic drugs.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; reversible in many cases, but severe or prolonged AKI can lead to chronic kidney damage or failure.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Electrolyte imbalances, fluid overload, chronic kidney disease, and increased risk of mortality.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Chronic and Acute Kidney Diseases
Symptoms:
fatigue; swelling in ankles, feet, or hands; frequent urination, especially at night; nausea; loss of appetite; muscle cramps; itchy skin; shortness of breath
Root Cause:
Gradual loss of kidney function over time due to diabetes, hypertension, or other chronic conditions leading to decreased filtration capacity.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Blood tests (e.g., creatinine and eGFR), urine tests (e.g., protein or albumin levels), imaging studies (e.g., ultrasound), and kidney biopsy in select cases.
Treatment:
Managing underlying conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension), lifestyle changes, dietary modifications, and slowing progression with medications like ACE inhibitors or ARBs.
Medications:
Medications may include ACE inhibitors (e.g., lisinopril ), angiotensin receptor blockers (e.g., losartan ), diuretics, phosphate binders, and erythropoiesis-stimulating agents for anemia.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 10% of the global population, with higher prevalence in individuals over 60.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, obesity, family history of kidney disease, and advanced age.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; early detection and treatment can slow progression, but advanced CKD may progress to end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or transplantation.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Anemia, electrolyte imbalances, cardiovascular disease, bone disorders, fluid overload, and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Chronic and Acute Kidney Diseases
Symptoms:
severe fatigue; fluid retention causing swelling; nausea and vomiting; loss of appetite; persistent itching; shortness of breath; decreased mental sharpness
Root Cause:
Complete or near-complete failure of kidney function, typically resulting from advanced CKD.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
eGFR below 15 mL/min/1.73m², blood tests, and clinical symptoms requiring dialysis or transplantation.
Treatment:
Long-term dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis) or kidney transplantation.
Medications:
Immunosuppressants post-transplant (e.g., tacrolimus , mycophenolate mofetil), phosphate binders, and erythropoietin-stimulating agents.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects over 2 million people worldwide on dialysis or living with kidney transplants.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension, prolonged CKD, autoimmune diseases, and family history.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Lifelong dialysis or transplant is required; transplant offers better quality of life and survival.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cardiovascular disease, infections, bone disorders, and complications related to dialysis or immunosuppressive therapy.
Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD)
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Chronic and Acute Kidney Diseases
Symptoms:
high blood pressure; back or side pain; frequent urinary tract infections; blood in urine; abdominal fullness; kidney stones
Root Cause:
Genetic disorder characterized by the growth of numerous cysts in the kidneys, leading to progressive loss of kidney function.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Ultrasound, CT, or MRI imaging to detect kidney cysts, genetic testing in specific cases, and family history assessment.
Treatment:
Managing hypertension, addressing infections, lifestyle changes, and potentially kidney transplantation in advanced cases.
Medications:
Tolvaptan (vasopressin receptor antagonist) to slow cyst growth, antibiotics for infections, and antihypertensive drugs (e.g., ACE inhibitors or ARBs).
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1 in 1,000 individuals worldwide.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of PKD, particularly autosomal dominant inheritance.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Progressive disease; many develop CKD or ESRD, requiring dialysis or transplantation. Early management can improve outcomes.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic pain, high blood pressure, kidney stones, recurrent infections, and progression to ESRD.
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD)
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Chronic and Acute Kidney Diseases
Sub-category: Polycystic Kidney Disease
Symptoms:
high blood pressure; abdominal or flank pain; recurrent urinary tract infections; hematuria (blood in urine); kidney stones; early onset of cyst development
Root Cause:
Autosomal dominant genetic mutation in PKD1 or PKD2 genes, leading to cyst development in both kidneys.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Family history, imaging studies (ultrasound or CT), and genetic testing if needed.
Treatment:
Blood pressure control, lifestyle changes, tolvaptan for cyst management, and monitoring for complications.
Medications:
Tolvaptan , antihypertensives (e.g., ACE inhibitors), antibiotics for infections, and analgesics for pain management.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 1 in 400 to 1,000 people, making it one of the most common genetic disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Family history of ADPKD.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Slow progression; about 50% develop ESRD by age 60. Treatment focuses on symptom management and delaying kidney failure.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cyst rupture, chronic pain, liver cysts, aneurysms, and ESRD.
Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (ARPKD)
Specialty: Nephrology
Category: Chronic and Acute Kidney Diseases
Sub-category: Polycystic Kidney Disease
Symptoms:
enlarged kidneys at birth; respiratory distress in newborns; high blood pressure; frequent urinary tract infections; failure to thrive in infants; abdominal distension
Root Cause:
Autosomal recessive genetic mutation in the PKHD1 gene, leading to cyst development in kidneys and liver fibrosis.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Prenatal imaging (ultrasound), neonatal imaging, genetic testing, and clinical symptoms.
Treatment:
Supportive care for kidney function, blood pressure control, managing infections, and potential dialysis or transplantation.
Medications:
Antihypertensives (e.g., ACE inhibitors or ARBs), antibiotics for infections, and supportive treatments for respiratory complications.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, affecting approximately 1 in 20,000 live births.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Both parents carrying a mutation in the PKHD1 gene.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; severe cases may lead to early mortality, while others may live into adulthood with proper management.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Respiratory failure in newborns, liver fibrosis, portal hypertension, and progression to ESRD.