Copy of `Kidney Health Australia - Glossary`

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Kidney Health Australia - Glossary Category: Health and Medicine > Kidneys Date & country: 23/04/2009, AU Words: 141

Abdomen
The area of the body that contains the pancreas, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder and other organs.

Acid
A water soluble, sour tasting chemical with a pH less than 7.

Acute Kidney
(Renal) A sudden drop in kidney function that is often short-lived and seldom means staying on dialysis.

Adequacy
Refers to how well your dialysis is working. It measures the amount of waste removed from your blood and determines the amount of dialysis needed.

Albumin
One of a simple group of water soluble blood proteins. In the blood, albumin acts as a carrier and helps to maintain blood volume and blood pressure. A blood test for albumin helps to determine if a patient has kidney disease or if the body is not absorbing enough protein.

Alkaline
A substance that neutralises an acid and has a pH more than 7.

Alport's syndrome
An inherited condition that results in kidney disease. Alport's syndrome usually develops during early childhood. The condition can lead to kidney failure and to hearing and vision problems. Common symptoms include blood and protein in the urine.

Amyloidosis
A condition in which a protein-like material builds up in one or more organs. This material cannot be broken down and interferes with the normal function of that organ. People who have been on dialysis for several years often develop amyloidosis because the artificial membranes used in dialysis fail to filter the protein-like material out of the ...

Amino acids
Substances that make up proteins.

Anaemia
When there are only a small number of red blood cells in the blood or the blood cells are not working properly. Red blood cells carry oxygen, so someone with anaemia can feel weak, tired and short of breath.

Analgesic nephropathy
Kidney disease caused from over use of analgesic (pain-relieving) medications.

Anti-bodies
Are made by the immune system, your body's protection mechanism, to attack tissue that is not normally part of the body, for example bacteria or toxins.

Artery
A large blood vessel that takes blood from the heart to other parts of the body.

Atherosclerosis
A thickening or hardening of the arteries.

Automated Peritoneal Dialysis
(APD) See Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD).

Bag exchanges
Refers to one complete treatment cycle of peritoneal dialysis. See Peritoneal Dialysis.

Basal Cell Carcinoma
A type of skin cancer

Bicarbonate
A soluble mineral salt or mixture of salts that can neutralise acids.

Biopsy
A small piece of tissue is removed for testing and examination under a microscope.

Bladder
A thin, elastic sac or membrane inside the body that stores the urine (wee).

Blood group
There are four blood groups, O, A, B, AB. In the first instance, blood group determines whether someone can receive a donor kidney.

Blood Typing
Usually refers to the red blood cell groups (O, B, A or AB) that govern the compatibility for blood transfusion. In the kidney world it may also mean the white cell or HLA typing that governs the compatibility for organ transplantation.

Blood Urea Nitrogen
(BUN) Waste product of the kidneys. Increased levels in the blood may signal early kidney damage.

Blood Vessels
The tubes that take blood around the body.

Buttonhole technique
A technique that is sometimes used to insert needles into a fistula.

Catheter
A plastic tube that is used to take fluid in or out of the body.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer. The chemotherapy drugs attack and kill the fast-growing cancer cells.

Chronic Kidney
(renal) A term used widely to describe kidney damage or reduced kidney function (irrespective of the cause) that persists for more than 3 months. Sometimes CKD leads to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to keep you alive.

Complete proteins
Foods, such as meat, fish and eggs, which contain all of the protein-building materials that a body needs.

Cramps
Many people with kidney failure get muscle cramps. Imbalances in fluid and electrolytes, nerve damage or blood flow problems are thought to be some of the causes. Some people experience cramps during or after haemodialysis and this may be due to a drop in blood pressure or a rapid loss of fluid or sodium.

Creatinine
Waste that is made by the breakdown of muscles. It is usually removed from the blood.

Cysts
Are sacs filled with clear fluid. Cysts can develop with age, kidney disease or be inherited. There can be one or many cysts, which can be simple or complicated.

Cytomegalovirus
Is a virus that is a member of the herpes family. In healthy people, CMV can lead to a flu-like illness that lasts a few days. People with transplants are more at risk of serious complications of this virus.

Diabetes
Is a chronic disease caused by problems with the production and/or action of insulin in the body.

Diabetic Kidney Disease
A serious outcome of diabetes, which affects the kidney filters and can lead to kidney failure.

Diabetes Mellitis
A condition characterized by high blood glucose (sugar) resulting from the body's inability to use glucose efficiently. Insulin normally helps the body's cells use glucose. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas makes little or no insulin; in type 2 diabetes, the body is resistant to the effects of available insulin.

Diagnosis
Giving a sickness a name based on the symptoms.

Dialyser
Part of a dialysis machine that filters blood to remove waste products and excess fluid.

Dialysate
A special fluid used in dialysis to remove waste and extra fluid from the blood.

Dialysis
A treatment for kidney failure that removes waste products and extra water from the blood by filtering the blood through a special membrane to remove waste products. There are two types of dialysis, haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. The type of dialysis used depends on age, lifestyle, overall health and other factors.

Dialysis fluid
A special fluid that is used during dialysis to help clean the waste and excess fluid from the blood.

Dialysis nurse
If you are on dialysis, you may become closest to your dialysis nurse. He or she specialises in dialysis treatment. Your dialysis nurse can teach you about the advantages and disadvantages of different kinds of dialysis. Dialysis nurses also help train people to do dialysis themselves.

Dialysis session
Length of time spent on dialysis according to specialists prescription.

Dialysis solution
A cleansing liquid used in the two major forms of dialysis- are haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Dialysis solution contains dextrose (a sugar) and other chemicals similar to those in the body. Dextrose draws wastes and extra fluid from the body into the dialysis solution.

Dialysis specialists
Nurses and other healthcare professionals who manage dialysis procedures and/or instruct patients how to manage their own dialysis.

Dietician
Someone trained in nutrition and diet planning.

Donor
A person who gives a body organ to another person, such as a kidney. For kidneys, the donor can be living or deceased.

Electrolytes
Elements or chemicals needed to enable the body and heart to work properly.

End stage kidney
(renal) The stage in kidney disease when a person's kidneys have stopped working so treatment is needed to sustain life, such as dialysis or a transplant.

End stage kidney
(renal) Total kidney failure that cannot be reversed. Treatment is needed such as dialysis or a transplant.

Energy foods
Foods, particularly sugar and fats, which provide the body with energy. Usually measure in calories or kilojoules.

Erythropoietin
(EPO) A body chemical (hormone) mainly made by the kidneys that causes the bone marrow to make red blood cells. A lack of this hormone can cause anaemia.

Exchange
One complete treatment cycle of peritoneal dialysis.

Ferritin
A form of storage iron.

Fistula
Produced when a vein and an artery in the arm or leg are joined together in an operation to make it easier to move blood in and out of the body during haemodialysis.

Fluid allowance/restriction
Is a limit or daily total amount of fluid taken daily that is usually set by a doctor or your healthcare team.

Fluid Retention
When the body does not get rid of enough liquid (water). This can cause swollen or puffy ankles, face or hands or shortness of breath.

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
(FSGS) scrarring of glomeruli (units within kidney where blood is cleaned)

Glomerular filtration rate
(GFR) GFR is the best measure of kidney function and helps to determine the stage of kidney disease. It shows how well the kidneys are cleaning the blood. GFR is reported in milliliters per minute. The GFR is usually worked out from the results of the creatinine blood test with age and gender. The GFR helps the doctor plan your...

Glomerulus
A tiny set of blood vessels in the nephron.

Glomerulonephritis
A type of kidney disease that damages the tiny filters in the kidneys. It is sometimes called nephritis.

Glomeruli
See nephron.

Goodpasture's Syndrome
An uncommon disease that affects both the kidneys and lungs.

Graft
Another type of access for haemodialysis that is used if the blood vessels cannot be used for a fistula. During surgery an artery and a vein are joined together by soft tubing.

Haematuria
(or blood in the urine) Occurs when red blood cells leak into the urine. It can turn urine a red or dark cola colour, which is visible to the eye or may only be found by a urine test, which is called microscopic haematuria. Blood in the urine is a common sign of urinary tract infections but can be the first sign of a problem wi...

Haemodialysis
A treatment for kidney failure. The patient's blood is pumped through special tubing to a haemodialysis machine. The machine acts like a kidney, filtering waste products from the blood before returning it to the patient. Haemodialysis usually lasts for 4-6 hours and is done 3 or more times a week.

Haemoglobin
A part of the red blood cells that carries oxygen around the body.

Haemolytic Uremic Sydnrome
(HUS) Rare condition affecting mostly children under the age of 10, characterized by destruction of red blood cells, damage to the lining of blood vessel walls, and, in severe cases, kidney failure. Most cases of HUS occur after an infection in the digestive system caused by bacteria-contaminated food like meat, dairy products,...

Health
Physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing, not merely an absence of disease.

Heparin
Added to the blood during haemodialysis to stop it from clotting (forming small lumps) and blocking the dialyser.

Home Haemodialysis
People are trained to perform haemodialysis in their own homes. People on home dialysis often report feeling more independent.

Hormone
A chemical made by glands in the body. Hormones circulate in the bloodstream and control the actions of certain cells or organs. They also affect moods.

Hypoglycemia
Low blood glucose. Most cases occur when there is too much insulin and not enough sugar in your body.

Hypertension
Another word for high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause chronic kidney disease and chronic kidney disease can cause high blood pressure.

IgA Nephropathy
A common type of glomerulonephritis. It causes blood in the urine and is often linked to sore throats and pain at the top of the legs.

Immunosuppressant
Medications taken following a transplant to prevent rejection.

In centre Haemodialysis
Usually performed in hospital, satellite unit or private clinic three times a week for around 5 hours.

Incomplete proteins
Foods, such as fruits, vegetables and cereals, which do not contain all of the protein-building materials that a body needs.

Insulin
A chemical or hormone made by the pancreas that controls the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood.

Kidneys
Reddish, jelly bean-shaped body organs. Most people have two kidneys but people can live with one. The kidneys are in the lower back just under the bottom of the rib cage. A kidney is about the size of your fist. The kidneys are very important because they remove waste and fluid from the body and produce urine (wee). They also help to:

Kidney Biopsy
A diagnostic test where a needle is used to remove a small piece of tissue from a kidney. A biopsy helps to determine the cause of kidney disease.

Kidney Failure
When the kidneys stop working. Kidney failure can be temporary (acute) or permanent.

Kidney Function
Blood tests are taken regularly from kidney patients to monitor how well the kidneys are cleaning the blood.

Kidney Transplant
When a healthy kidney is taken from one person and surgically placed into someone with kidney failure. The kidney can come from a live or deceased donor. It is important to remember that a transplant is a treatment not a cure for kidney disease.

Kidney Ultrasound Scan
A probe is moved over the skin, sending and receiving ultrasound signals, which then make pictures of the kidneys and bladder. This is a diagnostic test, often used to measure the size of the kidneys.

Kilojoules
A metric measure of the energy value of food (previously called calories). Lipid: another name for fats that cannot usually be dissolved in water. M Melanin pigment: a substance that naturally colours the hair and skin.

Membrane
A thin, elastic lining or sac connecting or covering parts of the body.

Metabolic
The chemical processes of the body.

Microalbuminuria
It is often an early warning of kidney disease if found in urine but can also be present for other reasons. It can mean that your kidneys are damaged so albumin, a kind of protein, leaks into the urine in very small or 'micro' amounts. The level can be measured by a special urine test either on a single urine sample or timed urine collection. Nor...

Mixed Connective Tissue Disease
A chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that may affect the kidneys.

Nephritis
See glomerulonephritis.

Nephrologist
A doctor who specialises in kidney function.

Nephrology
The study of the kidneys.

Nephron
The tiny parts of the kidney that filter blood to make urine (wee). There are over one million filters in each kidney.

Nocturnal Home Haemodialysis
A form of haemodialysis available in some regions. Dialysis occurs whilst you are asleep. Dialysis occurs whilst you are asleep. Dialysis usually takes place at home for around eight hours, six nights a week.

Oedema
See fluid retention

Organs
Parts of the body that help us to stay alive, such as the kidneys, heart, lungs and liver.

Osmosis
The movement of molecules from a high concentration to a low concentration across a membrane.

Outpatient clinic
A service for patients who are not staying in the hospital.

PD cycler
See Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD).