Overview It is important to be able to identify those with early chronic kidney disease (CKD), firstly because CKD has a very strong association with the risk of death, cardiovascular…
Overview Kidney transplantation is generally the optimal form of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in terms of patient survival, quality of life and cost-effectiveness. Immunosuppressive treatment is necessary for the life…
Overview Congenital and structural renal disease Antenatal ultrasound scanning during pregnancy detects a range of structural renal abnormalities which require assessment and follow-up during infancy. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is…
Overview The term acute kidney injury (AKI) is now preferred in kidney circles to the older term acute renal failure (ARF). The life-threatening consequences of AKI are volume overload, hyperkalaemia…
Overview Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is a common condition in kidney specialist practice with significant complications. It is caused by a wide range of primary (idiopathic) and secondary glomerular diseases. Patients…
Overview Around 25% of patients start dialysis without adequate preparation within the United Kingdom. This is often due to a failure to integrate care, such as in patients with diabetes….
Overview Renal artery stenosis (RAS) may present as drug-resistant hypertension, acute kidney injury (especially with angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use), chronic renal impairment or…
Overview Urinary protein excretion of <150 mg/day is normal (∼30 mg of this is albumin and about 70–100 mg is Tamm-Horsfall (muco)protein, derived from the proximal renal tubule). Protein excretion can rise transiently…
Overview Patients need to be given timely information about prognosis and quality of life, whether they are on dialysis, choose to stop or even choose not to start dialysis in…
