Also called: Also called: End-stage renal disease, ESRD, Renal failure
Healthy kidneys clean your blood by removing excess fluid, minerals and wastes. They also make hormones that keep your bones strong and your blood healthy. But if the kidneys are damaged, they don't work properly. Harmful wastes can build up in your body. Your blood pressure may rise. Your body may retain excess fluid and not make enough red blood cells. This is called kidney failure.
If your kidneys fail, you need treatment to replace the work they normally do. The treatment options are dialysis or a kidney transplant. Each treatment has benefits and drawbacks. No matter which treatment you choose, you'll need to make some changes in your life, including how you eat and plan your activities. But with the help of healthcare providers, family and friends, most people with kidney failure can lead full and active lives.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Kidney Failure(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://www.aafp.org/afp/20030615/2539ph.html
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Kidney Failure(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/kidneyfailure/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/kidneyfailurespanish/htm/index.htm
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Kidney Failure: Choosing a Treatment That's Right for You(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/choosingtreatment/
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/choosingtreatment/index.htm
- Introduction to the Kidneys and Chronic Kidney Disease(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_intro/index.cfm
- JAMA Patient Page: Kidney Failure(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/301/6/686.pdf
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Kidney (Renal) Failure(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/pediatric/index.cfm?cat=08&topic=120
Also available in Spanish http://www.urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=120
- Kidney Disease Overview(National Kidney Disease Education Program) - http://www.nkdep.nih.gov/patients/
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You Can Live: Your Guide for Living with Kidney Failure(Dept. of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - Large PDF file - http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02119.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/02119_S.pdf
- Networking May Aid Blacks Who Need Kidney Transplant(03/27/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_82232.html
- Dialysis Via Fistulas May Help Young or Old(03/13/2009, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_81692.html
- Special Chewing Gum May Help Dialysis Patients(02/19/2009, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_80722.html
- Kidney and Urinary Tract Function, Disorders, and Diseases(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/kidney.html
- Understanding Your Blood Work: eGFR(American Kidney Fund) - Links to PDF - http://www.kidneyfund.org/assets/pdf/gfr-fact-sheet.pdf
- Choosing a Treatment for Kidney Failure(National Kidney Foundation) - Large PDF file - http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/choosing_treat.pdf
- Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure: Transplantation(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/transplant/
- Renal Diet for Vegetarians: Choosing the Right Proteins(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/renal-diet/AN01465/METHOD=print
- Treating Kidney Failure and Eating Healthy(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_nutr/index.cfm
- Coping Effectively: A Guide for Patients and Their Families(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=100
- BUN Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/bun/test.html
- Creatinine(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/creatinine/test.html
- End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)(American Kidney Fund) - http://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-health/kidney-failure/end-stage-renal-disease.html
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JAMA Patient Page: Acute Renal Failure(American Medical Association) - Links to PDF - http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/reprint/288/20/2634.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/data/288/20/2634/DC1/1
- Kidney Failure, Acute(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/kidney-failure/DS00280/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Kidney Failure, Chronic(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/kidney-failure/DS00682/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
- Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/amyloidosis/
- Analgesic Nephropathy (Painkillers and the Kidneys)(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/analgesicnephropathy/
- Anemia in Kidney Disease and Dialysis(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/anemia/
- Bone Disease in Chronic Kidney Failure(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=49
- FDA Requests Boxed Warning for Contrast Agents Used to Imrpove MRI Images(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/NEWS/2007/NEW01638.html
- Health Care Team(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=70
- Kidney and Heart Disease Connection(American Society of Nephrology) - Links to PDF - http://www.asn-online.org/facts_and_statistics/asn-kidney-heart.pdf
- Kidney Failure: What to Expect(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/expect/
- Kidney Risk Spurs Warning on Bowel Cleansers(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/bowel_cleansers121608.html
- Managing Your Life with Kidney Failure(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/patients/plu/plu_manag/index.cfm
- Questions and Answers on Gadolinium-Based Contrast Agents(Center for Drug Evaluation and Research) - http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/gcca/qa_200705.htm
- Renal Osteodystrophy(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/renalosteodystrophy/
- What Vaccinations Do You Need?(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=122
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Kidney Failure(Patient Education Institute) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/kidneyfailure/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/kidneyfailurespanish/htm/index.htm
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Kidneys and How They Work(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/yourkidneys/
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/yourkids/
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Kidneys and Urinary Tract(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body_basics/kidneys_urinary.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/general/kidneys_urinary_esp.html#
- Financial Help for Treatment of Kidney Failure(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/financialhelp/
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Medicare Coverage of Kidney Dialysis and Kidney Transplant Services(Dept. of Health and Human Services) - Large PDF file - http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/10128.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.medicare.gov/publications/pubs/pdf/10128_s.pdf
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Kidney Failure(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Kidney+Failure%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Kidney Failure, Chronic(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Kidney+Failure,+Chronic%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Peritoneal Dialysis(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/term=peritoneal+dialysis
- Genetics Home Reference: Alport syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=alportsyndrome
- Article: Access to kidney transplantation among remote- and rural-dwelling patients with... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19383959&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: GFR shot by RIFLE: errors in staging acute kidney injury. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19376434&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Relation between heart rate response to adenosine and mortality in... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=19361607&tool=MedlinePlus
- Kidney Failure -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=kidney+failure[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Kidney Diseases Dictionary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kdictionary/
- Kidney Failure Glossary(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/glossary/
- Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/resources/organizations.htm
- Find a Urologist(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/find_urologist/html/index.asp
- American Association of Kidney Patients - http://www.aakp.org/
- Life Options Rehabilitation Program - http://www.lifeoptions.org/
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/
- National Kidney Foundation - http://www.kidney.org/
- AAKP Kidney Beginnings: The Electronic Newsletter(American Association of Kidney Patients) - http://www.aakp.org/newsletters/KB--Electronic-Newsletter/
- E-Kidney Newsletter(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/news/newsletters.cfm
- Renal Flash(American Association of Kidney Patients) - http://www.aakp.org/newsletters/Renal-Flash/
- Medigap Policies for People Under Age 65 with a Disability or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD)(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - http://www.medicare.gov/medigap/under65.asp
- End Stage Renal Disease in the United States(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/news/newsroom/fs_new/esrdinUS.cfm
- Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kustats/
- Kidney Center Data Profile(Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network) - http://optn.transplant.hrsa.gov/organDatasource/stateData.asp?type=state&mqsd=1&display=Kidney
- Medicare for Children with End-Stage Renal Disease(Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) - Links to PDF - http://www.medicare.gov/Publications/Pubs/pdf/11392.pdf
- Questions Children Ask: Helping Children Adjust When a Parent Has Kidney Failure(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=155
- School & Family Problems of Children with Kidney Failure(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/childkidneydiseases/school_family_problems/
- Treatment Methods for Kidney Failure in Children(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/childkidneydiseases/treatment_methods/
- What Vaccinations Does My Child Need?(National Kidney Foundation) - http://www.kidney.org/atoz/atozItem.cfm?id=124
- When Your Child Has a Chronic Kidney Disease(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/kidney/chronic_kidney_disease.html
- Pregnancy in End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) and Transplant Patients(American Association of Kidney Patients) - http://www.aakp.org/aakp-library/Pregnancy-ESRD-Transplant-Patients/
- Dialysis - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dialysis.html
- Kidney Cancer - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneycancer.html
- Kidney Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneydiseases.html
- Kidney Transplantation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneytransplantation.html
- Kidneys and Urinary System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/kidneysandurinarysystem.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Kidney Failure is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/
Kidney Failure - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/kidneyfailure.html