Kidney Failure & Treatment:
If the kidneys fail completely, they are unable to regulate the
levels of water & electrolytes in the body or to remove waste
products (such as urea) from the blood.
This rapidly leads to death.
There are two common ways of identifying a potential issue
with the kidneys:
o Measuring the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (this is a
measure of how much fluid passes into the nephrons each
minute) its normally about 90-120 cm3min-1. This is
calculated from the results of a blood test.
o The presence of proteins in urine indicates that the
filtration mechanism has been damaged as proteins are
too large to pass across the basement membrane.
Advantages of Kidney Disadvantages of Kidney
Transplant: Transplant:
Freedom from time-consuming Need immunosuppressants for
dialysis. the rest of the life of the kidney.
Diet is less limited. Need major surgery under
Feeling better physically. general anaesthetic.
A better quality of life. Risk of surgery.
No longer seeing self as Frequent checks for organ
chronically ill. rejection.
Side effects.
If the kidneys fail completely, they are unable to regulate the
levels of water & electrolytes in the body or to remove waste
products (such as urea) from the blood.
This rapidly leads to death.
There are two common ways of identifying a potential issue
with the kidneys:
o Measuring the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (this is a
measure of how much fluid passes into the nephrons each
minute) its normally about 90-120 cm3min-1. This is
calculated from the results of a blood test.
o The presence of proteins in urine indicates that the
filtration mechanism has been damaged as proteins are
too large to pass across the basement membrane.
Advantages of Kidney Disadvantages of Kidney
Transplant: Transplant:
Freedom from time-consuming Need immunosuppressants for
dialysis. the rest of the life of the kidney.
Diet is less limited. Need major surgery under
Feeling better physically. general anaesthetic.
A better quality of life. Risk of surgery.
No longer seeing self as Frequent checks for organ
chronically ill. rejection.
Side effects.
