$Unique_ID{BRK02178} $Pretitle{} $Title{Information About Kidney Failure} $Subject{Kidney Failure wastes liquid chemical processes proteins amino acids urea filtering mechanism filter blood flow poisoning toxic substances uremia infections inflammations nephritis acute chronic accidents bleeding shock chemical toxins loses weight, high blood pressure mental processes headaches gastrointestinal GI symptoms vomiting stomach cramps bleeding dialysis glomerulonephritis transplant organ donation} $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Information About Kidney Failure ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: Just the word "failure" is enough to make me shudder, but I need to understand a lot more about kidney failure. Just what does this mean, how does it effect someone's life, or is life possible with kidney failure? We do not live in the same city as the relative for whom we are concerned, and hope you can provide us with this information. Please?! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: The word "failure" has many negative meanings, and nowhere is it a more threatening term than when used to describe the state of the kidney. To understand what failure means, it is important to appreciate all the important functions the kidneys perform when they are working normally. While solid wastes leave the body as feces, and gaseous waste products (such as CO2) depart by way of the lungs and exhaling, the liquid wastes leave by way of sweat to a slight degree and through urine for the most part. And it is the kidneys that control that function. Many of the chemical processes in the body that lead to the development of proteins use amino acids. Proteins form more than 10 percent of the body's weight. Amino acids that remain after the body has used all it requires are converted into urea by the liver, another waste product that must be excreted from the body. And the passage out of the body for urea is through the filtering mechanism of the kidney. Urine is thus composed of water and urea, with a number of other chemicals as well. When the kidneys are unable to filter these waste products out of the blood, the wastes stay within the body, causing the symptoms associated with kidney failure and impairing the functioning of many body systems. The three major causes of kidney failure are the interruption of sufficient blood flow to the kidneys (an obstruction of the renal artery for example), poisoning with toxic substances that can destroy kidney tissue (heavy metals or some types of industrial solvents), or infections or inflammations of the kidney itself (nephritis). There are two type of kidney failure, "acute" and "chronic". The acute type is the result of a rapid deterioration of kidney function, often the result of accidents, severe bleeding and shock or chemical toxins. Immediate treatment is a must, for this is a life threatening condition. Chronic failure develops more slowly, sometimes over a period of years, as bit by bit the kidneys lose tissue, and the ability to perform the filtration function that is the kidney's responsibility. The patient grows weaker, loses weight, develops high blood pressure. Often the mental processes become dulled, there are frequent headaches, and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as vomiting, stomach cramps, and even GI bleeding can occur. The most common cause of this form of failure is glomerulonephritis, but long term untreated high blood pressure can also lead to this serous disease. As the kidney fails the toxins accumulate in the blood, and both blood and urine tests can provide the signs necessary to make a diagnosis. This condition is frequently called "uremia" (urine in the blood), and almost every system in the body is affected when this occurs. As the severity of the disease progresses, there are only two possible therapies that can offer relief. The first is kidney dialysis, where the blood is cleansed artificially by using a machine to perform the work the kidneys no longer can do. The other, more preferable treatment is a kidney transplant. Unfortunately, there are far more people needing this operation than there are organs. Let this be my plea to all who read this column, to consider including organ donation when they make their plans for the inevitable that must come to us all. ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.