Kidney Function

The common belief for many years has been that although one can survive and live a reasonably normal life with just one kidney, it is much more preferrable to have two. However, a recent study conducted by the University of Minnesota suggests that normal kidney function may be achieved with just one kidney and that it may actually be no different than having two functioning kidneys.

This news couldn’t have come at a better time, as the worldwide demand for kidney donations is on the rise.

The lead author of this study, Dr. Hassan Ibrahim, says that he hopes this new information will help alleviate the axienty most people have when it comes to kidney donation.

Dr Ibrahim and his colleagues conducted thorough research by tracking down nearly every one of the 3,700 individuals who had donated a kidney at the university’s transplant facility between 1963 all the way through 2007. Surprisingly, Ibrahim and his team discovered that the prevalence or risk factors of diabetes, high blood pressure, and of course kidney disease were actually about the same if not favorable when compared to non-donors of the approximate same age, gender, and race.  Life spans, in general, also were shown to be the same, if not longer.

Receiving a living kidney donation is the best case scenario for anyone suffering end-stage kidney disease who depend on dialysis machines for survival. Many doctors are now grateful for this study, as it offers evidence that can be used to encourage and reassure potential donors that they may donate a kidney without sacrificng their own kidney function.

If you’re interested in becoming a kidney donor, check out Living Donors Online to determine your eligibility, and to get more information on the process.

It is perfectly natural for the human body to react negatively to a transplant, as it is perceived as a foreign body that has been introduced and may be a threat. In order to reduce the chance of rejection and increase the chance of the new kidney taking and providing proper kidney function, your doctor will prescribe drugs that work to suppress your immune system. In order to ensure your new kidney continues functioning properly, you will need to take this medication for the rest of your life. Ceasing to take the medication as directed will put you at risk of transplant rejection.

Even taking the drugs as prescribed does not eliminate the possibility of rejection 100%.  It is not uncommon for transplant patients who regularly take their medication as cheduled to experience rejection episodes. However, the chances of rejection are at their highest within the first few months following the transplant surgery.

The most noticeable indications that a rejection episode may be occuring are the following:

• Soreness or pain in the kidney area
• Fever over 100 degrees Fahrenheit
• Urine output is decreased significantly
• Sudden weight gain, swelling, or both
• Increase in blood pressure
• Flu-like symptoms, such as nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting

If you are the recipient of a kidney transplant and you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you are strongly urged to visit or at least contact your physician as soon as possible.

Interstitial nephritis (IN): an accute, often drug-induced renal disease that involves inflammatory damage to interstitial tissue.

This condition can have a crippling impact on kidney function. Damage to interstitial tissue is the second most common cause of chronic renal failure (following glomerular disease). Causes of IN include infection (streptococcal, for example) and drug use. Among the drugs that commonly contribute to this condition are the following antibiotics:

• Methicillin
• Ampicillin
• Sulfonamides
• Phenindione
• Phenytoin

Interstitial nephritis may also arise from idiopathic causes. Early detection of infections, drug reactions, and urinary tract obstruction is key. Medical professionals routinely take into account taht some patients may abuse over-the-counter analgesics when diagnosing this condition.

Pathophysiology

Acute inflammation of the interstitium may cause scarring and rapid decline in kidney function. As many as 10-15% of the cases of acute renal failure may be associated with acute interstitial nephritis. The inflammatory process is generally diffuse and accompanied by interstitial dedema. An immune response appears to casue acute IN that may involve disposition of both immune complexes as well as antitubular basement membrane antibodies.

Chronic IN results in a shrunken kidney with an irregular outline, due to the scarring and tissue destruction it has endured. It follows a slowly progressive course with very few clincial manifestations. Changes in renal hormone activity may occur, and the production of renin, erythropoietin, and vitamin D may be reduced. The ability to concentrate urin is also stifled. The most common causes of IN are anatomic abnormalities (such as an obstruction in the urinary tract), hyperuricemia, analgesic use, and nephrosclerosis.