Kidney Transplant:

A kidney transplant, also known as a renal transplant, is when a patient with end-stage kidney disease receives an organ transplant of a kidney. Depending on the source of the donor organ, kidney transplantation is usually classed as deceased-donor or living-donor transplantation.

Disease Overview:

Kidney failure

Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys are unable to filter metabolic waste products from the blood sufficiently.

Kidney failure can be caused by a variety of factors. Some cause a fast deterioration in kidney function (acute kidney injury, also called acute renal failure). Others cause kidney function to deteriorate over time (chronic kidney disease, also called chronic renal failure). The kidneys are less able to control the amount and distribution of water in the body (fluid balance), as well as the levels of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphate) and acid in the blood, due to their inability to filter metabolic waste products (such as creatinine and urea nitrogen) from the blood.

Blood pressure frequently rises when renal failure has been present for a long period. A low red blood cell count occurs when the kidneys lose their capacity to generate enough erythropoietin, a hormone that encourages the creation of new red blood cells (anemia). The kidneys also lose their capacity to generate enough calcitriol (vitamin D's active form), which is essential for bone health. Kidney failure has an impact on bone development in youngsters. Kidney failure can cause weaker, deformed bones in both children and adults.

Although kidney function can diminish at any age, older persons are more likely than younger people to suffer from acute renal injury or chronic kidney disease.

Many conditions that cause renal function decrease can be treated, and kidney function can sometimes be restored. Kidney failure has been turned from a deadly condition to one that can be managed because to the availability of dialysis and kidney transplantation.

Disease Signs and Symptoms

Acute renal failure can cause the following signs and symptoms:

• Urine production is reduced, however it might occasionally return to normal.
• Swelling in your legs, ankles, or feet is caused by fluid retention.
• Breathing problems
• Fatigue
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Weakness
• Irregular heartbeat is a condition in which the heartbeat is irregular.
• Pain or pressure in the chest
• In extreme circumstances, seizures or coma may occur.
• Acute renal failure can sometimes go unnoticed and only be identified through lab testing performed for another reason.

Disease Causes:

Acute renal failure can develop when one or more of the following conditions exist:

• You have a disorder that causes your kidneys' blood flow to slow down.
• Your kidneys are damaged in a direct way.
• The urine drainage tubes (ureters) in your kidneys become clogged, preventing wastes from leaving your body through urine.
• Kidney blood flow is obstructed.

The following diseases and disorders can cause kidney damage by slowing blood flow to the kidneys:

• Loss of blood or fluid
• Medication for high blood pressure
• Angina pectoris
• Coronary artery disease
• Infection
• Failure of the liver
• Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, and others), naproxen sodium (Aleve, and others), and other pain relievers
• A severe allergic response has occurred (anaphylaxis)
• Burns that are severe
• Dehydration is a serious problem.
• Kidney damage is common.

Acute renal failure can be caused by the following illnesses, conditions, and agents:

• Blood clots in and around the kidneys' veins and arteries
• Cholesterol deposits in the kidneys that obstruct blood flow
• Glomerulonephritis is an inflammation of the small filters in the kidneys (gloe-mer-u-loe-nuh-FRY-tis) (glomeruli)
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome is a disorder that occurs when red blood cells are destroyed prematurely.
• Infection, such as that caused by the coronavirus virus in 2019. (COVID-19)
• Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes glomerulonephritis.
• Medications utilised during imaging examinations, such as some chemotherapeutic medications, antibiotics, and colours
• Scleroderma is a term used to describe a group of uncommon illnesses that affect the skin and connective tissues.
• A uncommon blood condition called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
• Toxins such as alcohol, heavy metals, and cocaine are examples of toxins.
• Rhabdomyolysis is the breakdown of muscle tissue that results in kidney injury due to toxins produced by the loss of muscle tissue.
• Tumor lysis syndrome occurs when tumour cells break down, releasing poisons that can harm the kidneys.
• Blockage of urine in the kidneys

Urinary blockages are diseases and disorders that prevent urine from leaving the body and can cause acute kidney damage.

• Bladder cancer is a kind of cancer that affects the bladder
• Urine clots are blood clots that form in the urinary system.
• Cervical cancer is a kind of cancer that affects the female
• Colon cancer
• Prostate enlargement
• Stones in the kidneys
• Nerve injury affecting the bladder's control nerves
• Prostate cancer is a kind of cancer that affects men

Factors that are at risk

Acute renal failure is nearly always the result of another medical disease or incident. Acute renal failure can be caused by a number of factors, including:

• senior citizen
  
• Blockages in your arms or legs' blood vessels (peripheral artery disease)
• Diabetes
• Blood pressure that is too high
• Insufficiency of the heart
• Diseases of the kidneys
• Diseases of the liver
• Some malignancies, as well as their therapies
• a senior citizen

Disease Diagnosis:

Your doctor may prescribe specific tests and treatments to confirm your diagnosis if your signs and symptoms suggest you have acute renal failure. These may include the following:

• Measuring the flow of urine Measuring how much urine you produce in a 24-hour period might help your doctor figure out what's causing your kidney failure.
• Urine tests are performed. Urinalysis (the analysis of a sample of your urine) can uncover abnormalities that indicate renal failure.
• Tests on the blood. A blood sample may indicate rapidly rising urea and creatinine levels, two chemicals used to assess kidney function.
• Imaging tests are performed. Your doctor may use imaging tests such as ultrasound and computed tomography to see your kidneys.
• A sample of kidney tissue is removed for examination.

Your doctor may prescribe a kidney biopsy to remove a tiny sample of kidney tissue for laboratory examination in some cases. To extract the sample, your doctor inserts a needle through your skin and into your kidney.

Disease treatment:

A hospital stay is usually required for acute renal failure treatment. The majority of persons with acute renal failure have previously been admitted to a hospital. The length of your hospital stay is determined by the cause of your acute renal failure and how fast your kidneys recover.

You might be able to heal at home in some circumstances.

The underlying cause of your kidney damage must be addressed.

The first step in treating acute renal failure is to figure out what caused your kidneys to be damaged in the first place. Your treatment options will be determined by the cause of your renal failure.

Complications will be treated until your kidneys have recovered.

In addition, your doctor will attempt to avoid problems and give your kidneys time to recuperate. Complications can be avoided with the following treatments:

Treatments can help you maintain a healthy fluid balance in your blood. Your doctor may suggest intravenous (IV) fluids if your acute kidney failure is caused by a shortage of fluids in your blood. Acute renal failure might also cause you to retain too much fluid, resulting in arm and leg edoema. In certain situations, your doctor may prescribe diuretics, which cause your body to remove excess fluids.

Medications to regulate potassium levels in the blood. To avoid the buildup of excessive amounts of potassium in your blood, your doctor may give calcium, glucose, or sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kionex) if your kidneys aren't filtering potassium from your blood adequately. Potassium deficiency can lead to serious abnormal heartbeats (arrhythmias) and muscular weakness.

Medications that help to restore calcium levels in the blood. If your calcium levels in your blood go too low, your doctor may suggest a calcium infusion.

Toxins are removed from your blood by dialysis. If toxins build up in your blood, you may require temporary hemodialysis (also known as dialysis) to help eliminate them from your body while your kidneys heal. Dialysis may also assist in the removal of excessive potassium from the body. During dialysis, a machine pumps blood out of your body and filters it through an artificial kidney (dialyzer). After that, the blood is returned to your body.

Home cures and a healthy lifestyle

Your doctor may prescribe a particular diet to assist maintain your kidneys and reduce the work they have to do throughout your recovery from acute renal failure. Your doctor may send you to a dietician who will assess your current diet and provide recommendations to make it easier on your kidneys.

Your dietitian may advise you to: Choose reduced potassium foods, depending on your circumstances. Your nutritionist may advise you to eat meals with less potassium. Bananas, oranges, potatoes, spinach, and tomatoes are all high in potassium. Apples, cauliflower, peppers, grapes, and strawberries are examples of low-potassium foods.

Avoid goods that have been salted. Avoid goods with added salt, which include many convenience meals like frozen dinners, canned soups, and fast food, to reduce the amount of sodium you consume each day. Salty snacks, canned veggies, and processed meats and cheeses are some of the other items with added salt.

Phosphorus should be limited. Phosphorus is a mineral found in whole-grain bread, oats, bran cereals, dark-colored colas, almonds, and peanut butter, among other foods. A high phosphorus level in the blood can weaken your bones and cause skin irritation. Your dietician can provide you precise phosphorus guidelines and how to reduce it in your case.

You may not need to consume a particular diet while your kidneys recover, but good eating is always vital.