Kidney diseases

Definition Renal artery stenosis (RAS, sometimes also called renal artery disease or kidney stenosis) occurs when the two main vessels that deliver blood to the kidneys become stiff or narrowed due to vascular disease. RAS is a type of atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, which occurs when fatty cholesterol …

What is hemolytic uremic syndrome? Hemolytic uremic syndrome, or HUS, is a kidney condition that happens when red blood cells are destroyed and block the kidneys’ filtering system. Red blood cells contain hemoglobin – an iron-rich protein that gives blood its red color and carries oxygen from the lungs to …

Definition Horseshoe kidney occurs in about one in 500 children. It occurs during fetal development as the kidneys move into their normal position in the flank area (area around the side, just above the waist). With horseshoe kidney, however, as the kidneys of the fetus rise from the pelvic area, …

Definition A kidney stone is a hard, crystalline mineral material formed within the kidney or urinary tract. Kidney stones are a common cause of blood in the urine (hematuria) and often severe pain in the abdomen, flank, or groin. Kidney stones are sometimes called renal calculi. The condition of having …

Hematuria – Overview Blood in urine – known medically as hematuria – is usually not a reason for major alarm. Because blood in urine can be a sign of a serious medical condition, however, it shouldn’t be ignored. All cases of hematuria should be evaluated by a doctor who can …

Definition Proteinuria is a condition characterized by the presence of greater than normal amounts of protein in the urine. It is usually associated with some kind of disease or abnormality but may occasionally be seen in healthy individuals. Plasma, the liquid portion of blood, contains many different proteins. One of …

Description Anuria is a condition where there is a little amount of urine discharge from the body. The main cause of anuria includes severe kidney problems, hypovolemia, cardiogenic shock, and sepsis. The term “anuria” indicates absence of urine. In most cases of anuria patients, the urine production would be in …

Definition Polycystic kidney disease is the inherited kidney disease that affects the kidney and other organs. The fluid-filled sacs are developed in the kidney and that disrupts the kidney filtering function and their ability to filter waste products from the blood. The cyst formation causes the kidney to become enlarge …