Kidney Disease: Causes, Symptoms, Types & Tests

Kidneys are vital to maintaining a healthy body. They remove waste and excess fluid from the blood, help regulate the level of minerals and fluids in the body, and play a role in regulating blood pressure. Damage to the kidneys or failure to function properly may be causes of kidney disease. Kidney disease can occur gradually, and it may not have any symptoms in its early stages. This is why it is crucial to have appropriate testing – particularly in individuals who have diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, or a family history of kidney disease. Both laboratory and imaging examinations aid health care providers at Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy in determining kidney health and in watching for changes over time.

What Is Kidney Disease?

Kidney Disease is any disorder of the kidneys. If the kidney is damaged, it may not be able to properly remove excess fluid and waste from the blood. Kidney disease can be temporary or long-term, depending on its cause. Chronic kidney disease develops gradually and can progressively affect how well your kidneys work. Most cases of early kidney disease do not cause any symptoms, and diagnosis may be made by testing blood and urine.

Kidney Disease Causes

There are a number of potential kidney disease causes. Chronic kidney disease in adults is often caused by diabetes and hypertension. Others include infections in the kidneys, complications with kidney stones, some autoimmune diseases, inherited (passed down through the family) diseases (like polycystic kidney disease), certain medications that can damage the kidneys (nephrotoxic drugs), and disorders of the filtering parts of the kidneys. The underlying cause may be important, as the patient's treatment and monitoring are based on the condition.

Kidney Disease Symptoms

Kidney disease symptoms can vary depending on the type and stage of the condition. Early kidney disease may not cause any obvious symptoms. As kidney function becomes more affected, some people may experience:

• Swelling in the feet, ankles, legs, hands, or around the eyes
• Changes in how often they urinate
• Foamy urine
• Blood in the urine
• Tiredness or weakness
• Loss of appetite, nausea, or vomiting
• Muscle cramps
• Itching or dry skin
• Difficulty concentrating
• Shortness of breath in advanced disease

These symptoms can also occur because of other health conditions, so they do not confirm kidney disease on their own. Proper medical evaluation and testing are important.

Types of Kidney Disease

There are different types of kidney disease, and they may affect the kidneys in different ways.

Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease develops when kidney damage or reduced kidney function continues over time. Diabetes and high blood pressure are major causes in adults.

Kidney Stones

Kidney stones are hard deposits that form inside the kidneys. Small stones may pass through the urinary tract, while larger or complicated stones can cause pain, blockage, or other problems.

Kidney Infections

A kidney infection can develop when bacteria or another infection affects the kidneys. Prompt treatment is important because an untreated urinary infection can potentially cause kidney damage.

Polycystic Kidney Disease

Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited condition in which multiple cysts develop in the kidneys and can affect kidney function over time.

Glomerular Diseases

These conditions affect the glomeruli, the tiny filtering units inside the kidneys. They may cause protein or blood to appear in the urine and can sometimes lead to reduced kidney function.

Kidney Function Test

Typically, a kidney function test includes blood and urine tests. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and urine albumin are two key indicators of kidney function. The creatinine level is measured in a blood test; it is a waste product that is eliminated by the kidneys. The creatinine value is used to calculate an eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate), which provides an estimate of how well the kidneys are filtering blood. The urine test can detect albumin, a protein that is normally found in the blood but should not normally appear in the urine. Finding albumin in the urine can indicate kidney damage. Urine ACR is usually ordered to make this assessment.

Other Tests for Kidney Disease

Medical professionals may suggest further tests if the initial blood/urine screenings and symptoms suggest they are necessary. These may include:

• Complete urine analysis
• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
• Electrolyte testing
• Kidney ultrasound
• CT scan
• Other specialized blood or urine tests
• Kidney biopsy in selected cases

Diagnostic imaging like an ultrasound scan or a computed tomography (CT) scan can give information about kidney size and shape, and can help determine other problems such as kidney stones or abnormal kidney structure. Selected cases may require a kidney biopsy to aid in determining a diagnosis and severity of kidney injury.

Who Should Get Kidney Testing?

Testing could be more critical for individuals who have a family background of kidney failure, diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease. Early kidney disease can have no symptoms, and tests can help you determine whether you have kidney disease before it gets worse. Testing frequency and type should be based on each person's health status and recommendations based on medical consultation.

Kidney Testing at Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy

Laboratory and diagnostic services may be integral to the assessment and supervision of kidney health in Molecular Diagnostics and Therapy. Blood and urine tests give helpful information related to the functioning of your kidneys, and imaging may be suggested to check for any structural issues or to evaluate other conditions. Tests will vary by symptoms, medical problems, risk factors, and clinical queries.

Conclusion

Diseases of the kidney can cause various problems in different people; in some, they may not have any symptoms at the early stages. Knowing what causes kidney disease, how it manifests, what types of kidney disease exist, and performing some tests to determine kidney function can help them identify when they might require medical evaluation. These may include blood and urine tests, as well as an imaging scan and other tests if necessary, to check kidney function and may suggest any potential damage to the kidneys.