Kidney failure

• What happens to the kidney in kidney infections

  the structure of the podocytes and tubules may be destroyed
• How can raised blood pressure damage the kidney

  Damage the structure of the epithelial cells and basement membrane
• How does genetic conditions like polycystic kidney affect the kidney

  Healthy tissue is replaced by fluid filled cysts
• What are the the two symptoms of an infected kidney, or kidney problems due to high blood pressure

  Protein in the urine

  blood in the urine
• If someone has a kidney infection e why do they get protein in their urine

  If the basement membrane or the podocytes are damaged then they will no longer act like filters and large proteins can pass into the filtrate/urone
• If someone Has a kidney infection why do they get blood in their urine

  The filtration process isn’t working properly
• What are the symptoms of kidney failure 


  Loss of electrolyte balance

  build up of toxic urea in the blood

  high blood pressure

  weakened bones

  anaemia
• Why does kidney failure cause loss of electrolyte balance 


  Body cannot excrete excess sodium, potassium and chloride ions causing osmotic imbalances in the tissue eventually causing death
• Why does kidney failure lead to a build up of toxic urea in the blood

  Body cannot get rid of urea and it’s poisons cells
• Why does kidney failure lead to high blood pressure

  Kidneys play and important role in controlling blood pressure by maintaining water balance
• Why does kidney failure lead to weakened bones

  The calcium and phosphorus balance is lost in the blood
• Why does kidney failure Lead to anaemia 


  Kidneys involved in the production of the hormone erythropoietin that stimulates the formation of blood cells. Reduction in red blood cells causes tiredness and lethargy
• How are kidney problems detected

  The globular filtration rate is used as a measure to see if their is kidney disease
• How can globular filtration rate show kidney disease

  The creatinine in the blood (which is the breakdown product of muscles) is used to estimate filtration rates.
• What unit is globular filtration rates measured in

  Cm3/min
• What factors affect globular filtration rate between individuals 


  Globular filtration rate decreases with age and men usually have more muscle mass so more creatinine
• What is normal globular filtration rate 


  Doesn’t fall below 70
• What does a globular filtration rate of 60 for 3 months show

  Moderate to severe chronic kidney failure
• What does a globular filtration rate of below 15 show

  Kidney failure
• What are the two types of dialysis

  Haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
• what is haemodiaylsis 


  Involves the use of a dialysis machine
• Where is haemodiaylsis carried out 


  Normally in the hospital although sometime patients have their own machine at home
• How does haemodiaylsis work


  *Blood leaves the patients body via an artery and flows into the dialysis machine, where it flows between a partially permeable dialysis membrane.

  *These membranes mimic the basement membrane . *On the other side of the membrane is dialysis fluid
• What does dialysis fluid in haemodiaylsis contain 


  * normal plasma levels of glucose to the blood so their is no net movement of glucose out of the blood

  * normal levels of mineral ions so any that move out restore the correct electrolyte balance

  * no urea so steep concentration gradient
• Why does blood and dialysis fluid flow in opposite directions

  So that a countercurrent exchange system is maintained
• What does the whole process of dialysis depend on

  Diffusion there is no active transport
• how long does haemodiaylsis take and how often

  About 8 hours multiple times a week
• How do people on haemodiaylsis need to change their diet


  Little protein and salt and monitor their intake to keep blood stable
• When can people on haemodiaylsis eat what they want

  At the beginning of the dialysis process
• What is peritoneal dialysis 


  It is done inside the body making use of natural dialysis membranes formed by the lining of the abdomen that is the peritoneum
• Where is peritoneal dialysis normally done

  At home
• How is dialysis fluid intodcuded into the abdomen in peritoneal dialysis 


  using a catheter
• How does peritoneal dialysis work 


  *The dialysis fluid is left in the abdomen for several hours to take place across peritoneal membrane.

  *so urea and excess mineral ions pass out of the blood capillaries into the tissue fluid across the peritoneal membrane into the dialysis fluid.

  *The fluid is then drained away
• How is a kidney transplant done

  The kidney is connected to blood vessels and the bladder in the recipient
• What is the most risk of a kidney transplant and why does it occur 


  Rejection due to the antigens on the donor organ being different from the antigens on the cells of the recipient and the immune system can recognise this
• How can the risk of a kidney transplant be reduced

  * match between antigens of domir and recipient being made as close as possible

  * recipient is given immunosuppressant
• What is a weakness of immunosuppressants 


  The prevent the patient from responding effectively to infectious diseases
• What is a weakness of transplanted organ 


  Don’t last forever usually 9-10 years however some have lasted as long as 50
• Why Is dialysis more common than a transplant 


  Dialysis is much more readily available due to a short supply of kidneys
• What is a down side of dialysis 


  Can cause side effects if long term and very expensive in the long term