The kidneys are two organs located in the abdomen, both about the size of a fist and with a characteristic Jewish shape.
They’re mainly in charge of filtering the blood.It also has important metabolic functions, such as the activation of vitamin D or the control of homeostasis, the balancing of the body’s physical parameters, such as the level of salts or the acidity of the blood.
Only chronic kidney disease affect approximately 15% of the adult population in countries such as Spain or the USA. In this article, we’ll explain the most common kidney diseases, their types, their main causes, and how they can be treated. We begin.
Types and causes of the most common kidney diseases
Kidney diseases are diseases that affect one or both kidneys. Its causes are very varied, but its symptoms can become very similar..
Given the physiological importance of the kidneys, which are responsible for filtering the blood and contributing in various ways to metabolism (e.g. calcium fixation, control of blood pH or balance of salts in the body), diseases that affect the kidney severely can be lethal if not treated in time.
When damage to the kidneys occurs gradually and irreversiblywe come across the so-called chronic kidney diseases. Unfortunately in these cases the disease does not have a direct cure, but even so there are treatments such as kidney transplantation or dialysis, which allow patients who suffer from them to lead a healthy and normal life.
There are also cases in which renal diseases appear suddenly, usually due to a blood insufficiency that can be produced by other pathologies, such as autoimmune diseases, cardiovascular problems, trauma or the consumption of toxic substances. If the underlying causes are remedied, kidney function can usually be restored in these cases..
Among the main renal diseases we can find the following.
Kidney stones
Kidney stones are small stones that form in the kidneys and have a variety of sizes and shapes, can be the size of a grain of sand or become like a grape. They are formed by the continuous accumulation of substances capable of producing crystals, the most common being those that are formed of calcium and oxalate, a substance found in certain foods of plant origin, such as spinach.
Kidney stones may cause blockages in the urinary tract. Its main symptom is intense pain that comes and goes suddenly, especially in the area of the back and abdomen, but can radiate to the groin and genitals in both men and women.
As the stone causes obstructions and damage to the kidney area, we can expect other symptoms, such as bleeding in the urine or decreased kidney function. The symptoms and their evolution will depend on the type of calculus, which can be caused by diet, but also by urinary tract infections or by a hereditary tendency to form them.
The main way to prevent the formation of calcium kidney stones is to drink enough water a day (between 1.5 and 2 liters), as well as to care for eating habits, avoiding for example sugary drinks.
2. Chronic renal failure
Chronic kidney failure is an irreversible disease. It occurs when the kidneys receive damage that accumulates over time, which involves scarring of the kidney’s functional tissue. These continuing damages diminish the kidney’s ability to perform its normal functions, with lethal consequences for the patient if the progression of the lesions or their causes are not controlled.
The kidneys are organs with a lot of relation with the blood, as they are in charge of filtering it. This filtration requires tiny blood vessels -capillaries- organized in so-called glomeruli, where the blood is purified. Conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure cause continuous damage to the functional structure of the kidney, both to its blood supply system and to the nephrons, the functional cells of the renal tissue.
3. Glomerulonephritis
Glomeruli are the structure of capillaries, surrounded by Bowman’s capsule – an enveloping layer formed by renal cells – where blood is filtered. Usually caused by circulatory system problemsbut also congenital deformities, infections, immune system disorders, or the abuse of certain drugs.
Damage from glomerulonephritis can build up over time, causing loss of kidney function. Luckily, it usually resolves on its own.
4. Polycystic Kidney Disease
Polycystic Kidney Disease is an inherited diseaseThat is, it is caused because the affected person has received genes that cause polycystic fibrosis.
Most of the alleles causing this disease are of the dominant type. It leads to the formation of a large number of large cysts in both kidneys, which can cause structural and functional damage to this organ.
Habitual treatment of kidney disease
Damage to the kidneys is irreversible because the tissue of these organs tends to heal in the affected areas. Most treatments for kidney disease, especially those in which damage occurs gradually, such as chronic kidney failure, begin by preventing further damage to the kidney.
To prevent the kidneys from losing functionthere are certain measures that can be taken. Control of blood pressure is essential, due to the sensitivity of these organs to high blood pressures. In cases in which there is an underlying pathology causing damage to this organ, the correction of this one is key to avoid the evolution of the renal disease.
Beyond prevention, once a certain degree of kidney function is lost -About 85%. life is impossible if there are no dialysis cycles – artificial filtering of the blood – or a healthy kidney is transplanted to the patient. Luckily in some countries it is relatively easy to get a related kidney donor, since we can live peacefully with only one of these organs.
Bibliographic references
- What Is Chronic Kidney Disease? NIDDK. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Retrieved September 18, 2019 from: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/..
- Rule AD, Sasiwimonphan K, Lieske JC, Keddis MT, Torres VE, Vrtiska TJ.(2012) Characteristics of renal cystic and solid lesions based on contrast-enhanced computed tomography of potential kidney donors. American Journal of Kidney Diseases.
- Gorostidi, M., Sánchez-Martínez, M., Ruilope, L., Graciani, A., de la Cruz, J., & Santamaría, R. et al. (2018). Prevalence of chronic renal disease in Spain: impact of the accumulation of cardiovascular risk factors. Nephrology, 38(6), 606-615. doi:10.1016/j.nefro.2018.04.004.