Nephrology

Nephrology (from Ancient Greek νεφρός (nephrós), meaning "kidney", and λόγος (lógos), meaning "study") is a specialty for both adult internal medicine and pediatric medicine that concerns the study of the kidneys, specifically normal kidney function (renal physiology) and kidney disease (renal pathophysiology), the preservation of kidney health, and the treatment of kidney disease, from diet and medication to renal replacement therapy (dialysis and kidney transplantation). The word "renal" is an adjective meaning "relating to the kidneys", and its roots are French or late Latin. Whereas accord

human disease, a condition characterized by large amounts of dilute urine and increased thirst

Creatinine (; ) is a breakdown product of creatine phosphate from muscle and protein metabolism. It is released at a constant rate by the body (depending on muscle mass).

Hydronephrosis is a medical condition where the kidney becomes enlarged due to a complete or partial obstruction in the outflow of urine. This results in the dilation of parts of the kidney that function to collect urine (renal pelvis and calyces). Hydronephrosis can affect one or both kidneys and can develop suddenly or gradually over time. This condition affects individuals of all ages including in fetuses during pregnancy.

Hyperkalemia is an elevated level of potassium (K+) in the blood. Normal potassium levels are between 3.5 and 5.0mmol/L (3.5 and 5.0mEq/L) with levels above 5.5mmol/L defined as hyperkalemia. Typically hyperkalemia does not cause symptoms. Occasionally when severe it can cause palpitations, muscle pain, muscle weakness, or numbness. Hyperkalemia can cause an abnormal heart rhythm which can result in cardiac arrest and death.

Human disease

wegner granulomatosis

symptom

rate at which a substance is removed or cleared from the body by the kidneys or in renal dialysis

a kidney other than the natural organ

Diuresis () is the excretion of urine, especially when excessive (polyuria). The term collectively denotes the physiologic processes underpinning increased urine production by the kidneys during maintenance of fluid balance.

Nephrotoxicity is toxicity in the kidneys. It is a poisonous effect of some substances, both toxic chemicals and medications, on kidney function. There are various forms, and some drugs may affect kidney function in more than one way. Nephrotoxins are substances displaying nephrotoxicity.

type of nephritis affecting the interstitium of the kidneys surrounding the tubules

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thumb|right|(A) Renal ultrasonograph of [[percutaneous nephrostomy tube placed through a calyx in the lower pole of a kidney with hydronephrosis. (B) The pigtail catheter is placed in the dilated calyx. The tube in (A) and the pigtail in (B) are marked with white arrows.]] A nephrostomy or percutaneous nephrostomy is an artificial opening created between the kidney and the skin which allows for the urinary diversion directly from the upper part of the urinary system (renal pelvis). It is an interventional radiology/surgical procedure in which the renal pelvis is punctured whilst using imaging

glomerulonephritis caused by deposits in the kidney glomerular mesangium and basement membrane thickening, activating the complement system and damaging the glomeruli

thumb|People showing a sample of urine to the physician Constantine the African. Uroscopy is the historical medical practice of visually examining a patient's urine to diagnose diseases or medical conditions. It is an ancient technique that involves the analyzing the color, odor, and sometimes composition of urine. It was widely used by physicians to assess a patient's health, with different colors or characteristics of urine thought to correspond to specific illnesses.

mammalian protein found in Homo sapiens

congenital disorder of urinary system

Human disease

Abnormal protein precipitations in urine in certain disease states

Pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) is a condition that mimics hypoaldosteronism (presenting hyperkalemia). Two major types of primary pseudohypoaldosteronism are recognized and these have major differences in etiology and presentation.

medical condition

Calciphylaxis, also known as calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA) or “Grey Scale”, is a rare syndrome characterized by painful skin lesions. The pathogenesis of calciphylaxis is unclear but believed to involve calcification of the small blood vessels located within the fatty tissue and deeper layers of the skin, blood clots, and eventual death of skin cells due to lack of blood flow. It is seen mostly in people with end-stage kidney disease but can occur in the earlier stages of chronic kidney disease and rarely in people with normally functioning kidneys. Calciphylaxis is a rare but serious d

rare cause of acute kidney failure

medical condition

medical sign of renal infection or renal stone

vascular disease with blood vessel obstruction resulting from the release of cholesterol

symptom

Perinephritis is an infection of the surroundings of the kidney either right or left. It can be the result of extravasated infiltration of the bacteria out of the renal pelvis (pyelonephritis) or a result of another kidney infection. The consequences include the infection of the neighbouring organs (for example transverse colon) or retroperitoneum, and/or hypertension. Perirenal abscess also may occur.

Adipsia, also known as hypodipsia, is a symptom of inappropriately decreased or absent feelings of thirst. It involves an increased osmolality or concentration of solute in the urine, which stimulates secretion of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) from the hypothalamus to the kidneys. This causes the person to retain water and ultimately become unable to feel thirst. Due to its rarity, the disorder has not been the subject of many research studies.

congenital disorder describing a kidney that is not located in its usual position

kidney disease that is characterized by abnormally small kidneys with normal morphology and reduced number of nephrons

Human disease