What is immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis? IgA vasculitis, formerly called Henoch-Schönlein purpura or HSP, is a disease that causes the antibody immunoglobulin A to collect in small blood vessels, which then become inflamed and leak blood. Nearly all people with IgA vasculitis develop a red or purple rash NIH external...
Does anti-GBM disease have another name? Anti-GBM disease is sometimes also called Goodpasture’s disease.1 Another related term is Goodpasture syndrome, a condition that also affects the kidneys and lungs but is not caused by anti-GBM antibodies. How common is anti-GBM disease? Anti-GBM disease is rare, with only about 1 in 1 million...
What are the kidneys and what do they do? The two kidneys are bean-shaped organs located just below the rib cage, one on each side of the spine. Every day, the two kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine,...
What is an ectopic kidney? An ectopic kidney is a kidney located below, above, or on the opposite side of the kidney’s normal position in the urinary tract. The two kidneys are usually located near the middle of your back, just below your rib cage, on either side of your...
What is diabetes insipidus? Diabetes insipidus is a rare disorder that causes the body to make too much urine. While most people make 1 to 3 quarts of urine a day, people with diabetes insipidus can make up to 20 quarts of urine a day. People with this disorder need...
What is amyloidosis? Amyloidosis is a rare disease that occurs when amyloid proteins are deposited in tissues and organs. Amyloid proteins are abnormal proteins the body cannot break down and recycle as it does with normal proteins. When amyloid proteins clump together, they form amyloid deposits. The buildup of these...
What is acquired cystic kidney disease? Acquired cystic kidney disease happens when a person's kidneys develop fluid-filled sacs, called cysts, over time. Acquired cystic kidney disease is not the same as polycystic kidney disease (PKD), another disease that causes the kidneys to develop multiple cysts. What are the differences between acquired...
What is peritoneal dialysis and how does it work? Peritoneal dialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that uses the lining of your abdomen, or belly, to filter your blood inside your body. Health care providers call this lining the peritoneum. A few weeks before you start peritoneal dialysis, a surgeon...
Talk with your doctor The first step is to talk with your doctor to find out whether you’re a candidate for a transplant. If you’re on dialysis, your dialysis team will also be part of the process. If you and your doctor think a kidney transplant is right for you,...
What happens during hemodialysis? During hemodialysis, your blood goes through a filter, called a dialyzer, outside your body. A dialyzer is sometimes called an “artificial kidney.” At the start of a hemodialysis treatment, a dialysis nurse or technician places two needles into your arm. You may prefer to put in your...
