Gitelman Syndrome – overview Gitelman syndrome (GS) is an inherited (autosomal recessive) salt-losing kidney disease characterised by: Increased potassium loss in the urine Hypokalaemia and hypomagnesaemia = low potassium and magnesium (both electrolytes/minerals)in the blood Alkalosis = too much alkali in the blood Hypocalciuria = not enough calcium in the urine. The abnormality is in […]
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Monkey survives for two years after pig kidney transplant Why is this important? Around 5,000 people in the UK are waiting for a kidney transplant at any time, yet only around 3,600 transplants are carried out each year. The average wait for a deceased donor kidney transplant in the UK is 2-3 years (NHS Blood
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I’ve just been diagnosed with CKD – what should I do? Here are five things to do. 1. Don’t panic Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy 2. See your GP Make a face to face appointment with your GP in the next 2-3 days. In an ideal world you should get a ‘double
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How common is CKD? About 1 in 10 people have CKD, i.e. its very common. But (the big BUT). Fortunately in most people, it is mild and more of a risk factor than disease. However, in 1 in 100 people with CKD, kidney function gets worse over time, and develop kidney failure (stage 5 CKD).
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What is the urinary tract? The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing urine, which contains wastes and extra water. For normal urination (weeing) to occur, all body parts in the urinary tract need to work together, and in the correct order. The urinary tract includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder,
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Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) patients at a large hospital in Japan A recent Japanese study looked at 49 patients with RPF (Ando, 2023). This is what they found. Why is this important? Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare condition in which there is fibrous tissue (scarring) in the retroperitoneal space, which is located behind the abdomen
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Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) – overview Retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF) is a rare condition in which there is fibrous tissue (scarring) in the retroperitoneal space, which is located behind the abdomen (tummy), in front of the spine. Here is an overview of retroperitoneal fibrosis. 1. Definition In retroperitoneal fibrosis the scar tissue in the retroperitoneum can compress
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Nerve (neuropathic) pain in CKD Key Points The kidneys remove waste products from the blood. If your kidneys do not work properly, waste products remain in your blood. This can cause damage to the nerves. You may then suffer from nerve pain. Some patients with CKD have nerve pain (neuropathic pain or neuropathy). This is
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What is a urine dipstick test? A urine dipstick test is an example of a ‘screening test’. This means it is relatively non-specific test that looks for groups of diseases – rather than specific diseases themselves. It may give the doctor more information on what further tests are required, even if it cannot make a
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What is medullary sponge kidney (MSK)? Medullary sponge kidney (MSK) is a congenital disorder, meaning it is present at birth. MSK occurs when small cysts (sacs) full of fluid form within the inner area (called the medulla) of the kidneys. It is also called Cacchi-Ricci Disease. In 70% of patients small stones form within the
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