Chapter Headings CHAPTER HEADINGS The Library is split into several chapters click on the section you require for more information + 1.Your Kidneys & What They Do + 2. Diseases & Conditions + 3. Treatments & Investigations + 4. Peritoneal Dialysis + 5. Haemodialysis + 6. Transplant + 7. Living With Kidney Disease + 8. Support Services + 9. Diet + 10. Drugs + 11. Research + 12. Glossary file:///C|/Program Files/My stuff/Back from Eiddwen Updated WKPL Files/Chapter Headings/chapter_headings_main.htm09/12/2009 10:21:57 CHAPTER HEADINGS CHAPTER 2 DISEASES & CONDITIONS This section has more than one leaflet please choose the leaflet you wish to view by clicking the blue underlined text + 2. Diseases & Conditions - Alport's Syndrome - Analgesic Nephropathy - Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease - Diabetes and Kidney failure - Glomerulonephritis - Gout and Kidney patients - High Blood Pressure - Hyperparathyroidism & renal bone disease - IgA Nephropathy file:///C|/Program Files/My stuff/Back from Eiddwen Updated WKPL Files/Chapter Headings/chapter_headings_section2.htm (1 of 2)08/12/2009 15:36:38 CHAPTER HEADINGS - Lupus - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - Myeloma - Nephrotic Syndrome - Obstructive Uropathy - Pain-killers & the kidney - Pyelonephritis - Simple Cysts - Urinary Tract Infection - Vasculitis file:///C|/Program Files/My stuff/Back from Eiddwen Updated WKPL Files/Chapter Headings/chapter_headings_section2.htm (2 of 2)08/12/2009 15:36:38 Alport’s Syndrome Alport’s Syndrome What is Alport’s Syndrome? Alport’s Syndrome is an inherited condition that causes abnormal development of the kidney. This abnormal development allows damage to occur to the capillary membranes of the glomeruli. These structures act as filters, removing excess water and waste from the blood. The damage is gradual and leads to kidney failure. Who gets Alport’s Syndrome? As the condition is inherited, you can only get it through the genes you acquire from your parents. It is a disease that reveals itself in childhood. Boys are affected more severely than girls, who may not even know that they have the condition. Exactly how it is passed on is unclear. Daughters seem to get it more from fathers who have the condition, whereas mothers seem to pass it onto both sons and daughters. What are the symptoms? The disease usually presents with blood in the urine (haematuria). This can be picked up early during routine urine tests, but is usually seen for the first time when the blood is visible in the urine. The other main symptom is hearing loss. As the blood in the urine is usually seen first, hearing loss is not generally noticeable at this time. In order to confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will want to perform a renal biopsy in order to obtain a very small amount of kidney tissue. This tissue will be examined under the microscope to determine what the cause of the blood in the urine is. What is the treatment for Alport’s Syndrome? There is no cure for Alport’s Syndrome. The damage to the kidney is permanent. file:///C|/Program Files/My stuff/Back from Eiddwen Updated WKPL Files/Section%202/Alport's%20Syndrome.html (1 of 2)08/12/2009 15:36:46 Alport’s Syndrome However, it takes time for the whole kidney to be affected and for the kidneys to fail. A child might be diagnosed with the illness, develop deafness when he is 10 years old and kidney failure when he is 15 years old. During this time, treatment will be aimed at controlling raised blood pressure and ensuring that the correct diet is followed What happens when the kidneys do fail? When kidney failure finally occurs the child will need the function of the kidney to be replaced by other means. This takes the form of dialysis. The different options available for dialysis will be put forward with their pro and cons in order that a choice can be made. In addition, anyone with Alport’s Syndrome, with kidney failure, can be placed on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. The condition will not affect any transplanted kidney. file:///C|/Program Files/My stuff/Back from Eiddwen Updated WKPL Files/Section%202/Alport's%20Syndrome.html (2 of 2)08/12/2009 15:36:46 Analgesic Nephropathy Analgesic Nephropathy What is Analgesic Nephropathy? Pain-killing drugs are called analgesics. Some years ago it was found that taking large doses of one particular pain-killer, phenacetin, could cause permanent damage to the kidneys. As a result phenacetin was withdrawn from the market and is not available in the UK. There is some concern, however, that prolonged use of other pain-killers like Brufen/Ibuprofen, Diclofenac/Voltarol etc and other medication such as those used for arthritis might occasionally have the same effect. It is important therefore not to take pain-killers for long periods i.e. several months or more without checking with your doctor. Paracetamol and tablets containing paracetamol like Co-codamol/Co-proxamol etc do not cause kidney trouble. What happens if kidney damage has occurred? If kidney damage is caused by drugs then stopping the drug is often followed by improvement in kidney function. Unfortunately the more damage that has occurred the less likely there will be a worthwhile improvement. file:///C|/Program Files/My stuff/Back from Eiddwen Updated WKPL Files/Section%202/Analgesic%20Nephropathy.html08/12/2009 15:36:51 Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease (ADPKD) This leaflet is a shortened version of a booklet on ADPKD prepared by the Institute of Nephrology, Institute of Medical Genetics and Department of Paediatric Nephrology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, Wales. Please ask your consultant if you would like one. What is Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease? Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (abbreviated as ADPKD) is an inherited disease in which cysts develop in both kidneys. In a proportion of people this condition will cause kidney failure in adult life. What are Cysts? A cyst is a cavity containing fluid like a blister or grape. The cyst is usually filled with clear fluid. Sometimes blood clots may develop in some of the cysts and, occasionally cysts may become infected. Polycystic means there are many cysts present. In ADPKD the cysts cause the kidneys to enlarge. How does ADPKD affect the kidneys? The most important effect is a slow loss of kidney function. This occurs over many years and may result in the slow development of kidney failure. Both kidneys are equally affected. Kidney failure is very rare before the age of 30 and, if it develops, usually occurs from 50 to 60 years of age. Up to a third of affected individuals, however, will reach the age of 70 years without serious kidney problems. Thus not everyone with ADPKD gets kidney failure. file:///C|/Program Files/My stuff/Back from Eiddwen Up...ominant%20Polycystic%20Kidney%20Disease%20(ADPKD).html (1 of 6)08/12/2009 15:36:55 Autosomal Dominant Polycystic What makes the cysts grow? No one knows what makes the cysts develop and grow. As a result there is no known proven treatment which will prevent cysts developing in people who have the ADPKD gene. Is it possible to predict who will develop kidney failure? Not everyone with ADPKD will develop kidney failure. Unfortunately it is not possible to predict who will and who won't advance into difficulties with kidney function. Furthermore, tests to tell how a patient inherits the condition are not yet available as a routine. It is important that anyone with the condition is seen regularly (about once a year) by a doctor for a check on blood pressure and the measurement of waste product levels in the blood. This will allow detection of any changes in kidney function at an early age. Can other parts of the body be affected? Yes. It is very common for people with ADPKD to have cysts in the liver. These may cause a large liver but liver failure does not occur. Occasionally cysts can occur in the spleen or pancreas but these do not cause any symptoms. What are the symptoms of ADPKD? Some people may get no symptoms at all. Others may experience no symptoms until they develop kidney failure. Some will get a variety of problems including pain, bleeding, infection in the urine and kidney stones. • Pain - A minority of people experience pain in the loins. Usually this occurs in attacks lasting only a few hours or days and then settles for a file:///C|/Program Files/My stuff/Back from Eiddwen Up...ominant%20Polycystic%20Kidney%20Disease%20(ADPKD).html (2 of 6)08/12/2009 15:36:55 Autosomal Dominant Polycystic long time. The pain can sometimes be severe requiring strong painkillers and may be accompanied by an episode of blood in the urine. Less frequently there may be a constant dull ache in the loins going on for months or years. • Blood - Blood in the urine is a very common finding in people with ADPKD. Often the blood is not visible to the naked eye but can only be detected by sensitive tests. Sometimes the urine is obviously discoloured pink, red or brown. Individuals may develop pain in the loins and blood in the urine. When this occurs it is thought to be due to the occurrence of bleeding from a cyst. Treatment in this case consists of plenty of liquids to drink, painkillers and rest. Very occasionally a blood transfusion may be necessary but the attacks will always stop eventually. • Urine infection - Studies have shown that people with ADPKD are liable to infection in the urine. Usually the attacks can be treated by antibiotics. Very occasionally infection can occur in the cysts themselves. In this case the antibiotics may need to be given through a vein to be effective.