Nephrology

What is nephrology?

Nephrology is an internal medicine specialty that deals specifically with your kidneys. Your kidneys are two organs, one on either side of your abdomen toward the back, that filter waste product out of your blood. They also help regulate the nutrients in your blood and your blood pressure. 

When your kidneys stop functioning correctly, secondary conditions can develop. As soon as you notice something is off, you should seek accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical care.

The nephrology team at Houston Kidney Specialists Center specializes in restoring or improving your kidney function. They also provide treatments for secondary conditions and offer several options for kidney replacement like transplants or dialysis.

Which diseases and conditions does nephrology address?

Nephrology addresses a wide range of complications affecting your kidneys or stemming from kidney malfunction. The Houston Kidney Specialists Center team thoroughly assesses you with urinalysis, blood tests, biopsies, and other diagnostic tests to ensure your diagnosis is accurate before starting your treatment. They frequently treat or manage:

• Acute and chronic kidney disease
• Kidney failure
• Kidney infections
• Hypertension
• Electrolyte disorders
• Bone and mineral problems
• Vasculitis
• Proteinuria
• Kidney stones
• Edema

You might have more than one of these health complications simultaneously if one of them is the cause of the other.

Which treatments does nephrology involve?

Houston Kidney Specialists Center offers many of the latest and most advanced treatments in nephrology. After testing you to confirm your diagnosis or rule out other possibilities, they create an individualized treatment plan. They might prescribe medications or recommend supplements as part of your treatment. They also provide procedures and surgeries, including:

Dialysis

Dialysis provides a way to filter your blood without the use of your kidneys. During hemodialysis, your blood runs through a machine that filters waste from it. Another form of dialysis involves a dialysis solution that filters waste from your blood. If you undergo dialysis, you’ll need to do it for four hours at a time, three days a week.

Kidney transplant surgery

If your kidney no longer works and isn’t treatable with conservative approaches, the team might suggest a kidney transplant from a living or deceased donor. They also help you navigate the medications you’ll need to take to keep your body from rejecting the new donor kidney.

To learn more about nephrology and why you might need to see a nephrologist, call Houston Kidney Specialists Center, or book an appointment online.