Kidney Diseases Dictionary: A-D

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acute (uh-KYOOT):

Acute often means urgent. An acute disease happens suddenly. It lasts a short time. Acute is the opposite of chronic, or long lasting.

acute renal (REE-nul) failure:

Sudden and temporary loss of kidney function. (See also chronic kidney disease.)

acute tubular (TOO-byoo-lur) necrosis (neh-KRO-sis) (ATN):

A severe form of acute renal failure that develops in people with severe illnesses like infections or with low blood pressure. Patients may need dialysis. Kidney function often improves if the underlying disease is successfully treated.

albuminuria (AL-byoo-mih-NOO-ree-uh):

More than normal amounts of a protein called albumin in the urine. Albuminuria may be a sign of kidney disease.

allograft (AL-oh-graft):

An organ or tissue transplant from one human to another.

Alport syndrome (AL-port SIN-drome):

An inherited condition that results in kidney disease. It generally develops during early childhood and is more serious in boys than in girls. The condition can lead to end-stage renal disease, as well as hearing and vision problems. The common symptoms of this condition are chronic blood and protein in the urine.

amyloidosis (AM-ih-loy-DOH-sis):

A condition in which a protein-like material builds up in one or more organs. This material cannot be broken down and interferes with the normal function of that organ. In kidneys, amyloidosis can lead to proteinuria, nephrotic syndrome, and kidney failure.

analgesic (AN-ul-JEE-zik)-associated kidney disease:

Loss of kidney function that results from long-term use of analgesic (pain-relieving) medications. Analgesics that combine aspirin and acetaminophen are most dangerous to the kidneys.

anemia (uh-NEE-mee-uh):

The condition of having too few red blood cells. Healthy red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body. If the blood is low on red blood cells, the body does not get enough oxygen. People with anemia may be tired and pale and may feel their heartbeat change. Anemia is common in people with chronic kidney disease or those on dialysis. (See also erythropoietin.)

antidiuretic (AN-tee-DY-uh-RET-ik) hormone (ADH):

A natural body chemical that slows down the urine flow. Some children who wet their beds regularly may lack normal amounts of antidiuretic hormone.

anuria (uh-NYOOR-ee-uh):

A condition in which the person stops making urine.

arteriovenous (ar-TEER-ee-oh-VEE-nus) (AV) fistula (FIST-yoo-luh):

Surgical connection of an artery directly to a vein, usually in the forearm, created in patients who will need hemodialysis (see dialysis). The AV fistula causes the vein to grow thicker, allowing the repeated needle insertions required for hemodialysis.

Arteriovenous Fistula

autoimmune (AW-toh-ih-MYOON) disease:

Any disorder in which the body is attacked by its own immune system. Examples are Goodpasture syndrome and lupus erythematosus (see lupus nephritis).

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biopsy (BY-op-see):

A procedure in which a tiny piece of a body part, such as the kidney or bladder, is removed for examination under a microscope.

bladder (BLAD-ur):

The balloon-shaped organ inside the pelvis that holds urine.

blood urea (yoo-REE-uh) nitrogen (NY-truh-jen) (BUN):

A waste product in the blood that comes from the breakdown of food protein. The kidneys filter blood to remove urea. As kidney function decreases, the BUN level increases.

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calcium (KAL-see-um):

A mineral that the body needs for strong bones and teeth. Calcium may form stones in the kidney.

chronic (KRAH-nik):

Lasting a long time. Chronic diseases develop slowly. chronic kidney disease may develop over many years and lead to end-stage renal disease.

chronic kidney disease (CKD):

Any condition that causes reduced kidney function over a period of time. CKD is present when a patient's glomerular filtration rate remains below 60 mL/min/1.73 m² for more than 3 months.

congenital (kun-JEN-ih-tul) nephrotic (nef-RAH-tik) syndrome:

A genetic kidney disease that develops before birth or in the first few months of life. Congenital nephrotic syndrome usually leads to end-stage renal disease and the need for dialysis or a kidney transplant by the second or third year of life.

creatinine (kree-AT-ih-nin):

A waste product from meat protein in the diet and from the muscles of the body. Creatinine is removed from blood by the kidneys; as kidney disease progresses, the level of creatinine in the blood increases.

creatinine clearance:

A test that measures how efficiently the kidneys remove creatinine and other wastes from the blood. Low creatinine clearance indicates impaired kidney function.

cyst (SIST):

An abnormal sac containing gas, fluid, or a semisolid material. Cysts may form in kidneys or in other parts of the body. (See also renal cysts.)

cystine (SIS-teen):

An amino acid found in blood and urine. Amino acids are building blocks of protein. (See also cystine stone and cystinuria.)

cystine stone:

A rare form of kidney stone consisting of the amino acid cystine.

cystinuria (SIS-tih-NOO-ree-uh):

A condition in which urine contains high levels of the amino acid cystine. If cystine does not dissolve in the urine, it can build up to form kidney stones.

cystitis (sis-TY-tis):

Inflammation of the bladder, causing pain and a burning feeling in the pelvis or urethra.

cystoscope (SIS-tuh-skope):

A tool for examining the bladder. The procedure is called cystoscopy (sis-TAH-skuh-pee).

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diabetes (dy-uh-BEE-teez) insipidus (in-SIP-ih-dus):

A condition characterized by frequent and heavy urination, excessive thirst, and an overall feeling of weakness. This condition may be caused by a defect in the pituitary gland or in the kidney. In diabetes insipidus, blood glucose levels are normal. (See also nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.)

diabetes (dy-uh-BEE-teez) mellitus (MELL-ih-tus):

A condition characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) resulting from the body's inability to use glucose efficiently. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin; in type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to the effects of available insulin.

dialysis (dy-AL-ih-sis):

The process of cleaning wastes from the blood artificially. This job is normally done by the kidneys. If the kidneys fail, the blood must be cleaned artificially with special equipment. The two major forms of dialysis are hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

• hemodialysis (HEE-moh-dy-AL-ih-sis):
  The use of a machine to clean wastes from the blood after the kidneys have failed. The blood travels through tubes to a dialyzer, which removes wastes and extra fluid. The cleaned blood then flows through another set of tubes back into the body.
  
  
  
  Hemodialysis
  
  
• peritoneal (PEH-rih-tuh-NEE-ul) dialysis:
  Cleaning the blood by using the lining of the belly (abdomen) as a filter. A cleansing solution, called dialysis solution, is drained from a bag into the belly. Fluids and wastes flow through the lining of the belly and remain "trapped" in the dialysis solution. The solution is then drained from the belly, removing the extra fluids and wastes from the body. There are three types of peritoneal dialysis:
  
  
  • continuous ambulatory (AM-byoo-luh-TOH-ree) peritoneal dialysis (CAPD): The most common type of peritoneal dialysis. It needs no machine. With CAPD, the blood is always being cleaned. The dialysis solution passes from a plastic bag through the catheter and into the abdomen. The dialysis solution stays in the abdomen with the catheter sealed. After several hours, the person using CAPD drains the solution back into a disposable bag. Then the person refills the abdomen with fresh solution through the same catheter, to begin the cleaning process again.
    
    
  • continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD): A form of peritoneal dialysis that uses a machine. This machine automatically fills and drains the dialysis solution from the abdomen. A typical CCPD schedule involves three to five exchanges during the night while the person sleeps. During the day, the person using CCPD performs one exchange with a dwell time that lasts the entire day.
    
    
  • nocturnal (nok-TURN-ul) intermittent (IN-ter-MIT-unt) peritoneal dialysis (NIPD): A machine-aided form of peritoneal dialysis. NIPD differs from CCPD in that six or more exchanges take place during the night, and the NIPD patient does not perform an exchange during the day.

dialysis solution:

A cleansing liquid used in the two major forms of dialysis—hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Dialysis solution contains dextrose (a sugar) and other chemicals similar to those in the body. Dextrose draws wastes and extra fluid from the body into the dialysis solution.

dialyzer (DY-uh-LY-zur):

A part of the hemodialysis machine. (See hemodialysis under dialysis.) The dialyzer has two sections separated by a membrane. One section holds dialysis solution. The other holds the patient's blood.

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Dialyzer

dwell time:

In peritoneal dialysis, the amount of time a bag of dialysis solution remains in the patient's abdominal cavity during an exchange.

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