Kidney failure

Causes of kidney failure

• hypertension

• Infection

• Polycystic kidney disease

• Diabetes mellitus

Glomerular filtration rate

• GFR is widely used as a measure to indicate kidney failure

• Levels of creatine in the blood are measured to give an estimated glomerular filtration rate

  • eGFR

  • Cm³/min

• Increase in levels of creatine in the blood suggests kidneys not functioning correctly

• Decreases with age even in healthy people

• Men usually have more muscle mass and thus more creatine than women

Dialysis

Haemodialysis

• blood from patient via AV fistula

• Into machine with artificial dialysis membrane

• Contains pores which allow passage of water/glucose/urea/ions

  • Diffusion Into dialysing fluid

• Pores too small to allow passage of blood cells/plasma proteins

• Heparin avoids clots

• Traps to remove bubbles

• Blood returns to patient artery