Kidney Disease

As part of the body´s waste-removal system, healthy kidneys work primarily to clean the blood of wastes produced through food intake and metabolic function. Every hour of every day, blood travels from the heart to the kidneys for a "cleansing" process. Millions of tiny filters in the kidneys remove unwanted waste and extra fluid from the body. This unwanted waste and extra fluid is excreted through the kidneys in the form of urine. Healthy kidneys also keep body chemicals, or "electrolytes," in balance. They also produce a hormone to regulate blood pressure, and another hormone to help bone marrow produce red blood cells to carry oxygen through the body. Kidney failure, when kidney function operates below 20 percent of normal function, is initially noticed when the body does not produce urine normally.

 

It is estimated that more than 1.2 million people worldwide suffer from end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a number that is growing at a rate of approximately six-to-seven percent annually. Additionally, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) predicts that the number of kidney failure patients in the U.S. will double in the next ten years. This growth is influenced in part by diseases associated with the aging population such as diabetes and high blood pressure, two leading causes of ESRD. Current treatment options for ESRD include peritoneal dialysis (PD), hemodialysis (HD) and kidney transplantation. Worldwide, more than one million people suffering from chronic kidney failure are treated with some form of dialysis. However, approximately three million people with kidney failure currently go undiagnosed or untreated, particularly in developing countries. Baxter is committed to helping kidney disease patients across the globe receive the best treatment options available to them.

Chronic kidney failure occurs when the kidneys are slowly damaged - this damage is over the long term and is not reversible. Most people with chronic kidney failure will require treatment to replace the function of their own kidneys.

Acute kidney failure occurs when the kidneys suddenly stop working. This may occur after surgery or due to an injury. It can also occur due to the use of certain drugs. People with acute kidney failure may regain their kidney function depending on the cause of the damage.

Renalinfo.com is a comprehensive and global educational resource for patients diagnosed with kidney disease or who may be at risk for developing the disease. It offers customizable tools for both patients and health-care providers and tailored information for pediatric patients.