Inflammatory Renal Disease

Renal disease, also called kidney disease, is damage to the kidneys affecting their ability to function properly. The disease normally progresses over time and may not become apparent until significant damage has occurred. According to the National Kidney Foundation, 26 million people in the United States have kidney disease. Early discovery and treatment helps in keeping the disease from getting worse.

Causes

• Two main causes of renal disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. High blood-sugar damages internal organs such as the kidneys. Polycystic kidney disease is an inherited disorder in which large cysts grow in the kidneys, damaging surrounding tissue. Urinary infections, kidney stones and autoimmune disorders such as lupus can damage and inflame kidneys and lead to renal disease.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of inflammatory renal disease include difficulty sleeping or concentrating, poor appetite, fatigue, swollen feet and ankles, frequent urination at night, dry and itchy skin, and muscle cramps. Advanced symptoms may include high blood pressure, difficulty breathing from build-up of fluid in the lungs, and bone pain or fractures.

Diagnosis

• Your doctor performs several tests to confirm a diagnosis of inflammatory renal disease, including urine and blood tests. A urine sample will be taken to test protein levels in the urine and a blood test will reveal how much creatinine, a waste product, is in the bloodstream. An ultrasound reveals if kidneys have enlarged and a biopsy of kidney tissue may be ordered if other tests cannot confirm a diagnosis.

Treatment

• There is no cure for inflammatory renal disease, so treating symptoms and slowing progression of the disease are the primary goals. Keep tight control on blood-glucose levels as high blood-sugar damages vital organs in the body. Medications for high blood pressure may be prescribed by your doctor to keep pressure in the normal range. Your doctor may set up a meeting for you and a dietitian to develop a diet that slows the progression of kidney disease. Diuretic medications may be recommended for fluid retention and salt intake should be reduced to control blood pressure.

Other Treatments

• Protein, potassium and fluids should be restricted to slow the progression of kidney disease. When kidneys are damaged they cannot filter certain wastes, and these chemicals end up in the bloodstream, damaging blood vessels and organs. Restrict your use of aspirin, Alka-Seltzer, Motrin, Zantac and herbal medications, as they can irritate kidney tissue. Discuss with your doctor ways to reduce pain and inflammation of renal disease.