Nephrology
This is the medical specialty concerned with the study, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases.
Funciones principales de los riñones
Filtration and Waste Removal
The kidneys filter the blood to remove metabolic waste products, foreign substances, and excess fluids, which are then excreted in the urine.
They regulate water and electrolyte balance
They maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and essential minerals (such as sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium) in the blood, which is essential for normal cellular function.
Blood Pressure Regulation
They regulate blood pressure by controlling the body's fluid volume and producing the enzyme renin, which helps increase the resistance of blood vessels, thereby raising blood pressure when necessary.
They produce essential hormones,
including erythropoietin (which stimulates red blood cell production in the bone marrow) and calcitriol (which is the active form of vitamin D, essential for bone health).
They regulate acid-base balance
They help maintain an appropriate pH level in the body by regulating the balance between acids and bases in the blood.
Chronic Kidney Disease
This is the slow and progressive loss of kidney function over time, usually over the course of months or years. The most common causes are diabetes and high blood pressure, although other conditions such as autoimmune diseases, chronic infections, urinary tract obstruction, or genetic disorders can also cause it.
In the early stages, it is often asymptomatic, and the diagnosis is made through routine testing. As kidney function declines, symptoms such as loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness, itchy skin, as well as swelling, difficulty controlling blood pressure, anemia, and bone pain may appear.
Early diagnosis is essential to delay or halt the progression of the disease, as treatment options are limited in advanced stages.
The management of chronic kidney disease focuses on slowing its progression, controlling symptoms, and treating complications.
Glomerulonefritis
It is an inflammation of the glomeruli, which are the functional units of the kidneys. This inflammation can severely impair kidney function and, if left untreated, can lead to kidney damage and kidney failure.
The most common symptoms include blood in the urine, excess protein in the urine, swelling of the face, hands, legs, or abdomen due to fluid retention, and high blood pressure.
It may be associated with autoimmune diseases, certain infections, specific kidney diseases, blood or lymphatic system disorders, exposure to toxins, and some types of cancer.
Treatment depends on the type of glomerulonephritis and may include immunosuppressive medications, drugs that control blood pressure, reduce protein loss, and manage edema (swelling), as well as a diet low in salt and protein. In advanced cases, kidney transplantation or dialysis may be required as renal replacement therapy.
Kidney stones
These are hard deposits of minerals and salts that form inside the kidneys when urine contains more crystalline substances than the fluids in the urine can dissolve.
The main risk factors include dehydration, a diet high in salt or protein, and genetic and metabolic factors.
Small stones may not cause symptoms; however, larger stones can cause severe pain in the side and back, which may radiate to the groin, pain during urination, blood in the urine, a constant urge to urinate, and/or nausea and vomiting.
Treatment depends on the size, type, and location of the stone and includes dietary and lifestyle changes, and ample hydration, which are necessary in some cases, as well as procedures such as lithotripsy or endoscopic surgery.
Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
A serious urinary tract infection affecting one or both kidneys. Risk factors include previous urinary tract infections that were not properly treated, urinary tract obstructions, vesicoureteral reflux (urine flowing backward from the bladder to the kidneys), a weakened immune system, and the use of urinary catheters.
Symptoms of pyelonephritis include fever and chills, abdominal or lower back pain, nausea and vomiting, pain or burning during urination, cloudy or foul-smelling urine (sometimes with blood), and confusion or disorientation (especially in older adults).
Pyelonephritis requires immediate medical attention. The primary treatment is antibiotics, following identification of the pathogen through a urine culture. In severe cases or those with complications, hospitalization may be necessary to administer intravenous antibiotics and provide constant monitoring.
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