Kidneys Specialist

What is Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)?

AKI is a syndrome which causes an abrupt lessening of kidney function or damage to the kidneys which takes place in only a few hours or days. AKI is frequent in those who have been hospitalized, especially in older people and those in the Intensive Care Unit. AKI causes the buildup of waste products in the blood, making it difficult for the kidneys to balance fluid levels. This can affect organs such as the brain, heart, and lungs. AKI can lead to chronic kidney disease and potentially kidney failure which necessitates dialysis. Even mild AKI can cause short and long-term health problems.

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) includes a group of conditions that damage the kidneys and keep them from filtering blood. If kidney disease advances, an accumulation of toxins and waste materials in the blood can become extremely high. Hypertension, malnutrition, anemia, weak bones, and damage to the nerves can occur as a result. Additionally, kidney disease increases the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. CKD can be caused by hypertension, diabetes, and other conditions. To keep CKD from becoming worse, early detection and treatment is imperative. When CKD progresses, it can cause kidney failure, requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant.

What is Kidney Cancer?

Kidney cancer, or renal cancer, is a disease where kidney cells become malignant and grow out of control, causing a tumor to develop. Nearly all kidney cancers initially appear in the lining of tiny tubes of the kidneys, called renal cell carcinoma. Fortunately, most kidney cancers are found before they spread and are caught early on which makes treatment easier. However, these tumors can grow to be quite large before they are detected. Certain factors can increase the likelihood of developing kidney cancer. For instance, kidney cancer occurs most frequently in people older than 40. Additional risk factors for kidney cancer include:

• Smoking
• Being male
• Being obese
• Using particular pain medications continuously
• Having advanced kidney disease or being on long-term dialysis
• Having particular genetic conditions including von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease or inherited papillary renal cell carcinoma
• Having a family history of kidney cancer
• Being exposed to particular chemicals like asbestos, cadmium, benzene, organic solvents, or particular herbicides
• Having hypertension
• Being of African descent
• Having lymphoma