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Summary
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 health care providers, family, and friends, most people with kidney failure can lead full and active lives.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Diagnosis and Tests
- Kidney Failure (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish
- Kidney Tests: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Treatments and Therapies
- Choosing a Treatment for Kidney Failure (National Kidney Foundation) - PDF
- Choosing a Treatment for Kidney Failure (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Dialysis: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Kidney Transplantation: MedlinePlus Health Topic (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
Living With
- Coping: Managing Your Kidney Disease (National Kidney Foundation) - PDF
- Creatinine Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
- Renal Diet for Vegetarians: What about Protein? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- What Is Kidney Failure? (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Related Issues
- Amyloidosis and Kidney Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
- Keeping Kidneys Safe: Smart Choices about Medicines (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- Mineral and Bone Disorder in Chronic Kidney Disease (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
- MRI: Is Gadolinium Safe for People with Kidney Problems? (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish
- Vaccines for Adults with Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease, Kidney Failure, or Kidney Transplant (National Kidney Foundation)
Specifics
- Acute Kidney Failure (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Genetics
- Alport syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Fibronectin glomerulopathy: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Nephronophthisis: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
- Uromodulin-associated kidney disease: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
Statistics and Research
- Kidney Disease Statistics for the United States (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Kidney Failure (National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Kidney Failure, Chronic (National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Reference Desk
- Kidneys and Urinary Tract (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Your Kidneys and How They Work (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) Also in Spanish
Children
- How Do Health Care Professionals Treat Kidney Failure in Children? (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases)
Patient Handouts
- Acute kidney failure (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Acute tubular necrosis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Dialysis - peritoneal (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- End-stage kidney disease (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Glomerular filtration rate (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.