We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Conditions

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Different Types of Kidney Disease?

By Meshell Powell
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 41,080
Share

There are several different types of kidney disease, and each of them has the potential to cause permanent kidney damage, often leading to the necessity of dialysis or kidney transplant. Some of the most common types of diseases affecting the kidneys include hereditary, systemic, and glomerular. Although research continues, there is currently no cure for kidney disease as of 2011. In some cases, medical treatment may be able to slow the progression of the disease, but dialysis or transplant remain the predominant methods of treatment in severe cases.

Polycystic kidney disease is an example of a genetic or hereditary disease. It is caused by a defective gene and leads the kidneys to develop many fluid-filled sacs called cysts. These cysts may eventually overtake enough of the healthy kidney tissue that the kidneys are no longer able to function on their own. The affected kidneys can grow quite large and cause significant amounts of pain.

Systemic kidney disease occurs when the kidneys can no longer function properly due to other medical conditions such as diabetes or lupus. Keeping these conditions under control can often slow down the progression of the kidney function loss. Unfortunately, lost kidney function cannot usually be regained once it does occur. For this reason, proper health management is extremely important.

When there is damage to the tiny blood vessels within the kidneys, glomerular kidney disease occurs. The first sign of this type of disease is often an abnormal amount of protein in the urine. This may be detected by a routine urine test, especially if no other symptoms are present. Patients with this type of condition frequently report blood in the urine, even with the absence of any kind of infection.

Treatment for severe kidney disease typically involves either dialysis or transplant. Dialysis is a medical procedure in which the blood is removed from the body, filtered through a dialysis machine for cleaning, and sent back into the body. This process often has to be repeated several times per week for the life of the patient unless a kidney transplant is performed. A kidney transplant is a type of surgery in which a healthy kidney is removed from an organ donor or a live donor and placed in the body of the patient. When this occurs, medications must be taken daily in order to reduce the chances of the patient's body rejecting the transplanted organ.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By Ceptorbi — On Feb 14, 2014

@Nefertini, symptoms of kidney problems caused by high blood pressure can include elevated blood pressure, fluid retention, increased frequency of urination, or difficulty in urinating. Laboratory tests for patients with kidney disease can show elevated amounts of protein in the urine, elevated creatine levels, and increased blood urea nitrogen or BUN. Treatment involves controlling blood pressure with medications and lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, and reduced sodium intake. If the kidney damage becomes severe enough, though, dialysis and even a kidney transplant can be needed.

By Nefertini — On Feb 13, 2014

@Ceptorbi - what chronic kidney disease symptoms did your friend experience?

By Ceptorbi — On Feb 13, 2014

People diagnosed with high blood pressure need to know that they can develop chronic kidney disease due to their hypertension. I know someone facing the possibility of dialysis due to her long-term high blood pressure's effect on her kidneys.

Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-are-the-different-types-of-kidney-disease.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.