Kidney Failure

The artificial pancreas that keeps tabs on sugar

(Medical Xpress)—Development of a sophisticated artificial pancreas holds potential to transform the lives of patients with Type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes created May 16, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Robotic transplant an option for obese kidney patients

Obese patients who received robotic kidney transplants had fewer wound complications than patients who received traditional "open" transplant surgery, according to surgeons at the University of Illinois Hospital ...

Surgery created May 15, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Drama therapy improves mood, reduces pain during hemodialysis

For patients with kidney failure, getting creative may provide some relief. Kansas State University researchers are exploring the effects of drama therapy on patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis and are ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 15, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Engineered spider toxin could be the future of anti-venom vaccines

New engineered spider protein could be the start of a new generation of anti-venom vaccines, potentially saving thousands of lives worldwide. The new protein, created from parts of a toxin from the reaper ...

Medications created May 09, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

France confirms first case of new SARS-related virus (Update)

A 65-year-old Frenchman is hospitalized after contracting France's first case of a deadly new respiratory virus related to SARS, and French health authorities said Wednesday they are trying to find anyone who might have been ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 08, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Possible treatment for serious blood cancer

A single antibody could be the key to treating multiple myeloma, or cancer of the blood, currently without cure or long-term treatment.

Cancer created May 06, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

FDA approves Procysbi for nephropathic cystinosis

(HealthDay)—Procysbi (cysteamine bitartrate) delayed-release capsules have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat nephropathic cystinosis in children (6 years and up) and adults. ...

Medications created May 02, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

SARS-like virus kills five Saudis (Update)

Five Saudis have died of a new SARS-like virus during the past few days and two more are being treated in an intensive care unit, the health ministry said.

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created May 02, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Researchers' new diagnostic test can identify each person's optimal salt intake

(Medical Xpress)—Researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have cut through conflicting advice about salt consumption by demonstrating that each person has a "personal salt index," an upper limit on daily ...

Health created May 01, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Tactics of new Middle East virus suggest treating by altering lung cells' response to infection

A new virus that causes severe breathing distress and kidney failure elicits a distinctive airway cell response to allow it to multiply. Scientists studying the Human Coronavirus-Erasmus Medical Center, which ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 30, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

'Off-the-shelf' artificial blood vessels show promise

(HealthDay)—Artificial blood vessels may one day reduce some complications of dialysis treatment in people with kidney failure, according to the results of early research in animals.

Cardiology created Apr 24, 2013 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 0

Painkillers taken before marathons linked to potentially serious side effects

Many competitors try to prevent pain interfering with their performance by taking painkillers that are readily available in pharmacies and supermarkets, say the authors.

Medications created Apr 20, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Phosphate-binding drug does not improve heart health of patients with mild kidney disease

High phosphate levels in the blood carry increased heart-related risks, but taking a drug that targets phosphate does not improve cardiovascular measures in patients with mild kidney disease, according to a study appearing ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 18, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Stenting dramatically improves treatment access for dialysis patients

Kidney failure patients on dialysis derive long-term benefit from the minimally invasive placement of a stent that improves the function of dialysis access grafts, according to 12-month trial results being presented at the ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 15, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Racial disparities exist in end-of-life care for US dialysis patients

At the end of life, black patients with kidney failure receiving chronic dialysis are less likely to be referred to hospice and to discontinue dialysis compared with white patients, according to a study appearing in an upcoming ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Apr 11, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


Renal failure or kidney failure (formerly called renal insufficiency) describes a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter toxins and waste products from the blood. The two forms are acute (acute kidney injury) and chronic (chronic kidney disease); a number of other diseases or health problems may cause either form of renal failure to occur.

Renal failure is described as a decrease in glomerular filtration rate. Biochemically, renal failure is typically detected by an elevated serum creatinine level. Problems frequently encountered in kidney malfunction include abnormal fluid levels in the body, deranged acid levels, abnormal levels of potassium, calcium, phosphate, and (in the longer term) anemia as well as delayed healing in broken bones. Depending on the cause, hematuria (blood loss in the urine) and proteinuria (protein loss in the urine) may occur. Long-term kidney problems have significant repercussions on other diseases, such as cardiovascular disease.

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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