Clinical Nephrology
Overview
Nephrology is the medical specialty that focuses on the study and treatment of diseases and disorders that affect the kidneys. The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located in the back of the abdominal cavity, which play a crucial role in regulating the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance, as well as removing waste products and excess water from the body.
Some of the common conditions that nephrologists diagnose and treat include:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Acute kidney injury (AKI)
- Glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidneys’ filtering units)
- Nephrotic syndrome (a group of symptoms that indicate kidney damage)
- Kidney stones
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Polycystic kidney disease (PKD)
- Lupus nephritis (kidney damage caused by systemic lupus erythematosus)
- Diabetes-related kidney complications (diabetic nephropathy)
Frequently Asked Questions
A nephrologist is a medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney-related conditions and diseases.
You should see a nephrologist if you have symptoms of kidney problems, such as blood or protein in your urine, decreased urine output, or swelling in your legs or ankles. You may also need to see a nephrologist if you have other medical conditions that can affect the kidneys, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
A nephrologist evaluates kidney function and diagnoses and treats conditions related to the kidneys, such as chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, and kidney stones. They may also manage patients who require dialysis or kidney transplantation.
The most common kidney-related conditions include chronic kidney disease, kidney stones, urinary tract infections, glomerulonephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and diabetic nephropathy.
Kidney function can be evaluated through blood tests to measure the levels of creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine tests to measure protein and other substances, imaging tests such as ultrasounds or CT scans, and kidney biopsies.
Prevention of kidney disease involves managing underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, maintaining a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise and a balanced diet, avoiding smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, and avoiding medications that can damage the kidneys.
Treatment for kidney disease depends on the underlying cause and may include medications to manage symptoms or slow the progression of the disease, lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, dialysis, or kidney transplantation.