Category Archives: Informative articles

Renal colic is a condition that can occur to anyone, without a previous cause of manifestation. This spasm is characterized by extremely intense pain that occurs suddenly and completely unexpectedly, most often in the lower back, where it is strongest.

The patient remains restless with nausea, less frequent regurgitation, abdominal distension, possible sweating and traces of blood in the urine.

In addition, the presence of renal colic should never be considered as a physiological condition, since pain associated with it is a clear manifestation of a problem that requires a visit to a doctor and intervention aimed at resolving the problem.

At its core, renal colic affects the two specific organs responsible for filtering blood and excreting waste in the urine, namely the kidneys. They represent a porous structure extremely rich in small channels, tubules and blood vessels, which act as a mechanical filter.

Colic is caused by a sudden obstruction of the patency of the urethra. Usually, the movement of stones is provoked by physical exertion, high fluid intake, alcohol, caffeine or diuretics. During this passage, the stones inflame their walls and cause the acute clinical manifestation of renal colic.

Renal colic can last from a few minutes to a few hours, and in rare cases – a few days.

It is important to diagnostically rule out other diagnoses such as pyelonephritis, acute pancreatitis, cholecystitis, acute appendicitis, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst, etc.

The disease is proven by ultrasound as this method is safe, highly informative and allows tracking of the person’s condition. In the laboratory, a blood test and urinal analysis are recommended.

The treatment includes the combined use of analgesics and antispasmodics, thus controlling the pain and removing the existing spasm of the ureter. From natural remedies, diuretic and anti-inflammatory-antiseptic teas can be used.

Recurrent nephrolithiasis and urinary tract obstruction eventually lead to chronic renal failure and permanent damage to the urinary tract. Therefore, its timely detection, treatment and prevention are important.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a partial or complete reduction of kidney function and it has five stages, where stage 5 is called renal failure. The disease progresses slowly and is determined by the extent to which kidney function is reduced.

In its initial stages, CKD is asymptomatic. Often, patients do not even know they have a kidney problem, but find out during the course of treatment for another disease, or when their condition is already in an advanced stage.

Symptoms of CKD may include: heaviness or pain in the lower back, high blood pressure, swelling, decreased urine output.

Organs and systems in the body are interconnected. Therefore, a problem in one place affects the whole body. Moreover, the risk factors for these 3 diseases are similar: hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), arterial hypertension, being  overweight, family history and low physical activity.

DIABETES AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Nowadays, diabetes is quite prevalent. Nearly 1 in 3 diabetes patients suffers from some degree of chronic kidney disease.

High blood sugar damages the blood vessels, leading to arterial hypertension, which in turn damages the kidneys and their function. On the other hand, hyperglycemia itself leads to kidney damage.

Therefore, maintaining normal blood sugar levels is crucial. Here, not only the medications your endocrinologist will prescribe are important, but also a healthy lifestyle: body weight control through appropriate diet and exercise, as well as avoiding nephrotoxic (kidney-damaging) medications and taking them only when absolutely necessary.

HEART DISEASE AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE

Kidney disease often leads to heart complications, while heart problems lead to kidney dysfunction.

Uncontrolled hypertension (blood pressure above 140/90) is one of the causes of CKD. On the other hand, CKD can lead to arterial hypertension and subsequently heart disease.

Many factors that can cause kidney disease also damage the heart and blood vessels. Among them, firstly, come high blood pressure and diabetes, which many patients with CKD have. In second place come obesity and smoking.

There is a strong connection between chronic kidney disease, heart disease and diabetes and it is not rare for one patient to have all three of them.  In their early stages, all of these diseases can be asymptomatic. Therefore, regular check-ups (for example, every year), even if you don’t have any complaints, can significantly increase your quality of life.

CHRONIC KIDNEY FAILURE AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES (nephrolife.bg)

Kidney dysplasia (Renal dysplasia) is a defect in the intrauterine development of the kidneys, which means that one or both kidneys have abnormal appearance (cysts, increased amount of connective tissue, etc.) and impaired function.

IS THIS CONDITION COMMON?

The condition occurs in 1:1000 to 1:4000 live births. It may go undiagnosed when only one kidney is affected and there are no symptoms.

Renal dysplasia in the majority of cases is a consequence of genetic mutations. Usually it is not an isolated condition, but is accompanied by defects in other organs and systems.

  The use of illegal substances and certain prescription medications during pregnancy also increases the risk of giving birth to a child with renal dysplasia. Therefore, it is important that the intake of any medication by the pregnant woman be discussed with an obstetrician-gynecologist.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Unilateral dysplasia can be asymptomatic or in combination with other defects of the urinary tract. Those affected often develop arterial hypertension and proteinuria (protein in the urine) at a later stage. Lumbar or abdominal pain, frequent urinary tract infections, and slower growth are also possible.

Bilateral dysplasia is one of the most common causes of chronic kidney disease in newborns. It can also be associated with the presence of oligohydramnios (reduced amount of amniotic fluid) during pregnancy.

Kidney changes can be diagnosed in utero by fetal ultrasound. After birth, some characteristic changes in laboratory parameters are also important for the diagnosis.

PROGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

The prognosis depends on the severity of the disease and especially on whether only one or both kidneys are affected.If a child has one functional kidney, a normal life is possible, provided that the condition is monitored regularly (blood pressure, laboratory parameters, urinalysis).

Children born with bilateral dysplasia must be strictly followed up by a pediatric nephrologist, who will order the necessary tests. It is possible for the condition to progress, necessitating hemodialysis or a kidney transplant.

PREVENTION

Genetically determined renal dysplasia cannot be prevented. It is important for pregnant women to lead a healthy life and to let their gynecologist know if they take any medications or have family history of renal dysplasia.

Historically, Dr. Willem Kolff is considered as the father of dialysis. This young Dutch doctor constructed the first dialyzer (artificial kidney) in 1943. The path to creating this innovation for its time began in the late 1930s when he worked in a small ward at the University Hospital in Groningen, the Netherlands.

The idea of ​​developing a blood purification machine was born for Dr. Kolf after observing a patient suffering from kidney failure. He decided to find a way to develop a machine to replace the work of the kidneys. When his invention was complete, he attempted to treat over a dozen patients with acute kidney failure over the next two years. Although only one of the treatments performed proved successful, he continued to experiment in improving his design. However, Kolf’s device only treats acute kidney failure, not end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Dr. Kolff’s invention is considered the first modern drum dialyzer and remained the standard for the next decade. After the end of World War II, he donated the five machines he made to hospitals around the world. One of those hospitals was Mount Sinai in New York, where he later moved to continue his research and scientific work.

The first patient in the world to be treated with repeated hemodialysis was Clyde Shields, whose first dialysis was in Seattle, USA, on March 9, 1960.

Dr. Belding Scribner, a professor of medicine at the University of Washington, has developed a way for patients with end-stage kidney failure to receive treatment through an access point in their arm. In 1962, Dr. Scribner opened the first formal dialysis clinic for patients. Subsequently, he also developed a portable dialysis machine that allows patients to receive this type of treatment at home.

The kidneys play an extraordinary role in the overall activity of our organism. They perform important functions that keep us healthy by filtering waste and excess fluid from the blood. They also maintain optimal levels of electrolytes such as sodium, calcium and phosphate, control blood pressure and participate in the synthesis of hormones that are necessary to keep bones and blood healthy.

Each kidney contains approximately one million tiny tubules called nephrons, which filter waste and extra fluid from the blood, which is later excreted from the body as urine. Usually, people are born with two kidneys, but sometimes, due to a number of reasons, life is completely possible with only one. In these cases, the only kidney is compensatory enlarged and takes up to 80% of the function of the missing one, which is quite enough for normal existence.

The main reasons why a person may have one kidney include the following:

– Congenital defect – a condition called renal agenesis means that a person is born with only one kidney.

– In another condition, renal dysplasia, a person is born with two kidneys, but only one is functioning.

– Surgical removal (nephrectomy) – removed kidney as a result of cancer or other disease

– Removal of a kidney after trauma or donation.

Many people lead normal and fulfilling lives with one kidney, although long-term health problems may arise that require specific monitoring and treatment.

Some of the problems that can occur include:

– Hypertension – Because the kidneys are involved in maintaining healthy blood pressure, many people with a single kidney are at slightly increased risk of hypertension.

– Proteinuria – Excess protein in the urine can be an indicator of kidney damage and people with one kidney often have above average levels of protein in the blood.

– Decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR) – GFR indicates how well the kidney filters fluids and waste products from the blood. Often people with one kidney have a reduced GFR.

In conclusion, we could say that the greater percentage of cases lead a completely normal and fulfilling life. It is important to attend preventive examinations at least once a year in order to prevent complications and kidney diseases.

Arterial hypertension (AH), also known as high blood pressure, is one of the most common chronic diseases. It occurs when blood moves in the arteries under greater pressure than normal. Blood pressure usually rises and falls throughout the day, but it can damage the heart and cause health problems if it stays high for a long period of time.

High blood pressure can constrict and narrow the blood vessels in the kidneys, which in turn reduces blood flow and interferes with their normal function. When this happens, the kidneys are unable to remove all the waste products and extra accumulated fluid from the body. This whole process raises the blood pressure even more, creating a dangerous cycle and causing more damage leading to kidney failure.

Arterial hypertension is of two types – primary and secondary.

Primary hypertension, also called essential hypertension, covers the greater percentage of hypertensives. The factors that lead to its appearance can be many and varied from stress, obesity, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, consumption of larger quantities of cooking salt, coffee, alcohol, genetic predisposition.

Unlike the previous one, secondary hypertension occurs as a symptom of another concomitant disease. It is also called symptomatic hypertension and develops most often in renal or endocrine diseases.

Controlling high blood pressure is important for overall health.

Here are some important steps that can be followed:

• A healthy, low-salt diet
• Regular physical activity
• Stress management
• Quitting smoking
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Limiting caffeine and alcohol intake
• Administration of prescribed medication as needed

Table salt, commonly referred to simply as salt in everyday life, is a mineral composed mainly of sodium chloride, a chemical compound of the salt group. In nature, it occurs in the form of natural crystals, as well as dissolved in seawater – the ocean has a salinity of 3.5%, which is equal to 35 grams of salts per liter of water.

The human body removes excess water from the body by filtering the blood through the kidneys, an activity that requires a balance of sodium and potassium in the body. A high-salt diet will alter this sodium balance, resulting in reduced kidney function and the elimination of less water, which in turn will lead to higher blood pressure. In addition, high salt intake has been shown to increase the amount of protein in the urine, which is a major risk factor for worsening kidney function and can increase the worsening of kidney disease in people who already have kidney problems.

WHAT DOES LARGE QUANTITIES OF SALT INTAKE LEAD TO?

High salt intake is associated with risk factors for both heart disease and worsening kidney function, including high blood pressure, excess protein in the urine, and fluid overload. Therefore, reducing salt intake can help reduce the risk of heart disease and preserve kidney function.

HOW MANY GRAMS OF SODIUM ARE OPTIMAL FOR PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE?

People with or considered to be at risk of kidney disease or kidney failure should keep their salt intake below the recommended maximum of 5g. This can be achieved through simple changes such as eating less processed foods and checking product labels before purchasing.

HELPFUL STEPS TO REDUCE SALT

• Gradually reduce the amount of salt used, reaching almost 50%.
• Do not add salt to prepared foods before tasting them.
• Use different spices that will make the taste of food more intense without the need for additional salting
• Get a lower sodium variety of sea salt

Seasonal flu is caused by influenza viruses that circulate in all parts of the world. During this season, staying healthy is pure luck. Unfortunately, this fact is not encouraging at all for those who are more susceptible to infections, among whom are patients with chronic kidney disease.

The flu and the common cold are very similar. If the onset of your illness was sudden, you have chills, muscle aches and headaches, then you most likely to have a flu. The cold is milder and the main complaints are stuffy nose and sore throat.

Kidney failure can weaken your immune system so that the flu is several times more likely to cause pneumonia and worsen other accompanying health problems than in healthy people.

WHAT SHOULD WE BE CAREFUL OF?

Be careful with herbal and folk medicines. People living with kidney disease should be extremely careful when using herbal products or complementary medicines. Some herbal preparations and products are not regulated in the same way as those from pharmaceutical companies. Therefore, the list of ingredients is not always accurate, and some herbal medicines have been found to contain pesticides, poisonous plants, hormones, heavy metals and other compounds that are potentially dangerous. Some herbal medicines also contain diuretics, high potassium levels, and/or other ingredients that can affect the kidneys or interact with your prescription drugs by changing their effectiveness.

Another supplement that should be approached with care is vitamin C and the doses in which it is taken. There are specially formulated multivitamins for people with kidney problems that contain just the right number of vitamins that your kidneys can handle. Ask your attending physician for recommendations.

HOW TO PROTECT OURSELVES?

The flu virus is transmitted by airborne droplets. When sick people sneeze and cough, it spreads through the air and anyone can get infected. Prevention is the best medicine. An annual flu shot and frequent hand washing are the best protection. Limit going out until the epidemic passes and avoid contact with sick people. If you still have to go somewhere, you can use a protective mask. Remember that the mask must be replaced with a new one in about 2 hours.

The aspiration to improve the quality of dialysis treatment of chronic renal failure has led to the introduction of new methods. One of them is hemodiafiltration as a form of replacement treatment for dialysis patients.

1. WHO IS IT SUITABLE FOR?

Online hemodiafiltration is suitable for all patients in need of hemodialysis, because it practically has no contraindications for its application. It is a step forward in the development of dialysis technologies and is closest to the function of human kidneys.

2. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HEMODIAFILTRATION AND STANDARD HEMODIALYSIS?

Classical hemodialysis relies on a process called diffusion – the passage of particles from an environment of high concentration to one where they are less concentrated. In this way, the blood is purified from the end products of the exchange, which would otherwise be expelled through the kidneys. Hemodiafiltration combines two physical processes – diffusion and convection. This advantage allows the blood to be cleansed of many more unnecessary substances – both small and large molecules, leading to a significant improvement in the patient’s condition.

3. WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES?

Hemodiafiltration offers improved purification of the body from uremic substances and general tolerability by the patient. Episodes of high or low blood pressure during the procedure are significantly reduced. Other advantages of the method include:

1. Prevention of the development of dialysis amyloidosis;
2. Protection in the development of MIA – syndrome (malnutrition, inflammation and atherosclerosis);
3. Better control over hyperphosphatemia (increased level of phosphates in the blood);
4. Better results in the treatment of renal anemia;
5. Control of dyslipidemia (deviations in the lipid profile);
6. Reduction of oxidative stress;
7. Reducing the risk of developing polyneuropathy;
8. Reduction of itching associated with chronic renal failure.

The disadvantages of the method are related to the maintenance of the equipment and consumables, not the effects on the patients.

4. DOES IT IMPROVE SURVIVAL?

According to studies, the application of hemodiafiltration instead of traditional hemodialysis improves the survival of patients with end-stage chronic renal failure. People benefiting from this new technology have  lower rate mortality rate because their risk of developing complications from the cardiovascular system is significantly reduced. However, the application of this new method is based on the recommendation and control of your attending physician.

HEMODIAFILTRATION MACHINES OF THE HIGHEST CLASS WILL BE AVAILABLE WITHIN A FEW DAYS IN “NEPHROLIFE” DIALYSIS CENTER

Today we will introduce you to interesting and curious facts about the kidneys and their activity. Without a doubt, you will be convinced that they are a unique and vital part of the functioning of the entire human organism.

The amount of blood filtered by both kidneys is between 120 and 150 liters per day.

The actual filtering structures are called nephrons, and each kidney consists of at least one million of these. Therefore, with two kidneys, the body has two million working little filtering machines.

Stretched end to end, the nephrons that make up the kidneys are about 5 miles (8 kilometers) long.

An important part of the kidneys and their activity performing and regulating the content of salt and potassium in the body.

The kidneys produce hormones that indicate the creation of red blood cells.

Some children are born with only one kidney. Subsequently, it grows to the point where its weight is equal to the total weight of two kidneys combined.

The kidneys also convert vitamin D into a form that can be used by the body.

As we age, the number of functioning nephrons in each kidney begins to decline by 1% per year.

An adult’s kidney weighs about 142 grams and is about the size of a fist.

The largest kidney stone ever recorded was the size of a coconut weighing about 1.1 kilograms.

When dehydration occurs, the kidneys stop producing urine until hydration is restored and blood volume increases.

Improper functioning of the kidneys can lead to the development of anemia. Studies show that most patients suffering from it have developed some type of kidney disease.

Nearly 500 million people worldwide (which equates to almost 10% of the world’s adult population) suffer from some type of kidney problem or damage.

The first successful kidney transplant was done by Joseph E. Smith and his team in Boston in 1954.

Most people are born with two kidneys, but in reality, to live a full and healthy life, you only need one properly functioning kidney.

VITAMIN D AND CHRONIC KIDNEY FAILURE