NEPHROLOGY

Nephrology is a speciality of internal medicine that focuses on the treatment of diseases that affect the kidneys.

A nephrologist is a type of doctor that specializes in treating diseases of the kidney. Not only do our nephrologists have expertise on diseases that specifically affect the kidney, but they’re also highly knowledgeable about how kidney disease or dysfunction can affect other parts of your body.

 Our Nephrologists can work with you to help diagnose and treat the following conditions:

• Blood or protein in the urine
• Chronic kidney disease
• Kidney stones, although a urologist may also treat this
• Kidney infections
• Kidney swelling due to glomerulonephritis or interstitial nephritis
• Kidney cancer
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Renal artery stenosis
• Nephrotic syndrome
• End-stage kidney disease
• Kidney failure, both acute and chronic

Our panel of nephrologists is also involved when other factors cause kidney disease or dysfunction, including:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Autoimmune conditions, such as lupus

 Medications

A wide range of tests can be used to assess the function of your kidneys. These tests prescribed by our nephrologists are typically performed on either a blood or urine sample.

Blood tests

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

This test measures how well your kidneys are filtering your blood. GFR begins to decrease below normal levels in kidney disease.

Serum creatinine

Creatinine is a waste product and is present at higher levels in the blood of people with kidney dysfunction.

Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)

As with creatinine, finding high levels of this waste product in the blood is a sign of kidney dysfunction.

Urine tests

Urinalysis

This urine sample can be tested with a dipstick for pH as well as the presence of abnormal amounts of blood, glucose, protein, or bacteria.

Albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR)

This urine test measures the amount of protein albumin in your urine. Albumin in the urine is a sign of kidney dysfunction.

24-hour urine collection

This method uses a special container to collect all of the urine that you produce during a 24-hour period. Further testing can be performed on this sample.

Creatinine clearance

This is a measure of creatinine from both a blood sample and a 24-hour urine sample that’s used to calculate the amount of creatinine that’s exited the blood and moved to the urine.

In addition to reviewing and interpreting the results of your laboratory tests, the nephrologist may also perform or work with other specialists on the following procedures:

• Imaging tests of the kidneys, such as ultrasounds, CT scans, or X-rays
• Dialysis, including placement of the dialysis catheter
• Kidney biopsies
• Kidney transplants