Nephrology is a specialty of adult internal medicine and pediatric medicine that concerns the study of the kidneys, specifically normal kidney function and kidney disease, the preservation of kidney health, and the treatment of kidney disease, from diet and medication to renal replacement therapy.
Nephrology is the branch of internal medicine’s subspecialty that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of kidney-related diseases. A human body has two kidneys; they are the bean-shaped organs located on either side in the retroperitoneal space. Kidneys are responsible for removing waste products and excess fluid from the body. They are also critical for retaining fluid intake and maintaining electrolyte concentrations that may be subjected to change due to numerous conditions or medicines.
Several kidney complications are systematic disorders, i.e. they are not only confined to the organ itself. These conditions need specialized treatment and medical care.
Diseases Treated Under the Branch of Nephrology
Nephrology focuses on ensuring the normal functioning of kidneys by treating conditions that hinder its processes. The various conditions that fall under the scope of nephrology include:
- Urine abnormalities such as excess excretion of protein, sugar, blood, casts, and crystals
- Glomerular complications that affect the tiny filtering systems of the kidneys known the glomerulus
- Cancers of the kidneys, bladder, and urethra
- Acute, sudden, long-term or chronic Renal failure
- Kidney infections
- Effects of diseases like diabetes and hypertension on the kidneys
- Acid-base fluctuations.
- Kidney and bladder stones
- Ill effects of toxins and drugs on the kidneys
- Nephrotic syndrome and nephritis
- Renal vascular diseases that disturb the blood vessel networks within the kidneys.
- Tubulointerstitial diseases affecting the kidneys tubules
- Autoimmune diseases including lupus and autoimmune vasculitis
- Hydronephrosis
- Dialysis and its associated long-term complications – hemodialysis as well as peritoneal dialysis
- Renal Transplantations
- Polycystic kidneys diseases in which large cysts or fluid-filled sacs grow within the kidney damaging its normal functioning – this may be congenital, inherited or genetic.
- Anemia related to kidney disease.
- Bone disease related to kidney disease