Kidney Failure

• Kidney failure - Inability to filter waste products of metabolism, regulate water and salt levels in the blood
• Causes of Kidney Failure:

  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Hypertension
  • Infection
• The rate of flow of fluid passing through the kidneys is an indication of function.
• Healthy kidneys have glomerular filtration rate of 90 to 120cm^3 min^-1
• A reduction in glomerular filtration rate to below 60cm^2 min^-1 is an indication of chronic kidney disease.
• If the kidneys fail, urea, water, salts and various toxins are retained and not excreted.
• If the kidneys fail, less blood is filted by the glomerulus, causing GFR to decrease.
• What does GFR stand for

  Glomerular Filtration Rate
• If the kidneys fail, the electrolyte balance in the blood is disrupted - the concentrations of ions and charged compounds are not maintained.
• No Treatment - Death as toxins, such as urea, build up and saly and water balance is upset.
• Kidney Transplant - One healthy kidney from a donor replaces both diseased kidneys.
• Kidney Dialysis - Artificial kidney machines carry out the function of kidney outside the body.
• Dialysis is the use of a partially permeable membrane to filter the blood.