What is a nephrologist – and what do they do?
In this article we will describe what is a nephrologist and what do they do.
A nephrologist is a non-surgical (i.e. not a surgeon) hospital doctor who specialises in treating diseases that affect the kidneys. These are the main groups of diseases they treat:
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD, slow onset of kidney dysfunction and/or failure)
- Acute kidney injury (AKI, rapid onset of kidney dysfunction and/or failure)
- End-stage kidney failure (ESRF; being on dialysis or with a kidney transplant) – 1 in 100 patients with CKD progress to ESRF
- Nephrotic syndrome (too much protein in the urine)
- Recurrent kidney infections
- High blood pressure.
In other words, nephrology is a branch of general medicine (this means a hospital-based non-surgical specialty) that focuses on the treatment of diseases that affect the kidneys.
A nephrologist’s job
Although your GP will work to help prevent and treat early stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD; and the other diseases above), a nephrologist may be called in to help diagnose and treat it if the function of the kidneys worsens.
Their primary task is to diagnose the cause of CKD or AKI, and prevent you needing dialysis or a kidney transplant. But if you do, they are trained to organise such treatment smoothly and carefully – to obtain the best long-term kidney health for you.
What else do nephrologists do?
Nephrologists also have expertise on diseases that affect the kidney (like diabetes, see below); and how medication may need to be adjusted, especially if you have CKD.
For example, a nephrologist can also be involved in other diseases that often occur at the same time as kidney disease, including:
- Diabetes
- Ischaemic heart disease (IHD)
- Peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
- Autoimmune conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Advice on medications.
Education and training in nephrology
In order to start on the path to becoming a nephrologist, you must first complete 4-6 years at medical school.
After receiving your medical degree, you will need to complete a 4-5 years programme as junior doctor (JD) that focuses on general medicine. After that, you will need to spend 5-6 years as a registrar (mainly in nephrology) before you can apply for a consultant post. These are the most senior doctors in a hospital.
During the time as a JD and registrar, you will need to take a further degree called MRCP (nephrology). This is in three stages, the last being at the end of your time as a registrar.
Differences between nephrology and urology
Urology is surgery of the urinary tract. The surgeons who do this are called urologists.
The fields of nephrology and urology share some overlap because they can both involve the kidneys. Whilst a nephrologist focuses on diseases that affect the function of the kidneys, a urologist focuses on diseases that can affect the male and female urinary tract and may need an operation.
The urinary tract includes the kidneys, and several other parts such as the ureters, bladder, and urethra. A urologist also works with the male reproductive organs, such as the penis, testes, and prostate.
Conditions that a urologist may treat can include:
- Kidney stones
- Bladder and kidney infections
- Bladder control issues (incontinence)
- Erectile dysfunction (ED, impotence)
- Benign enlargement of the prostate
- Prostate, bladder and kidney cancer.
Summary
We have described what is a nephrologist – and what do they do. We hope it is clearer now.
Last Reviewed on 2 April 2024