The treatment for kidney disease depends on the underlying cause. General treatment for kidney disease may include a kidney diet, fluid restriction, vitamin supplements, and medications. Treatment for severe kidney disease may include kidney dialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

General treatment for kidney disease may include:

• Kidney dialysis:
• A machine that filters the blood
• Peritoneal dialysis:
• An alternative to kidney dialysis that filters the bloodstream by flushing fluid into and out of the abdominal cavity
• Fluid restriction for more severe kidney disease
• Kidney disease diet
• Kidney transplant
• Medication for kidney disease
• Vitamin supplements for kidney disease

• Acute glomerulonephritis treatment
• Acute interstitial nephritis treatment
• Kidney injury treatment
• Kidney stone treatment
• Nephrotic syndrome treatment
• Polycystic kidney disease treatment
• Pyelonephritis treatment
• Reflux nephropathy treatment
• Renal artery occlusion treatment
• Renal cell carcinoma treatment
• Renal tubular acidosis treatment
• Urinary tract infections treatment

Kidney Dialysis
Severe kidney disease can result in kidney failure. The kidneys are unable to remove fluid and waste from the body. The treatment of kidney failure requires kidney dialysis.

The two types of dialysis include:

• Hemodialysis:
• Blood flows through a machine that filters waste from the bloodstream.
• Peritoneal dialysis:
• Fluid is placed inside the abdominal cavity
• Waste products seep into the fluid through the tissue in the abdomen
• Fluid is removed from the abdomen

When the kidneys fail, they are unable to filter waste from the bloodstream. A kidney disease diet limits the amount of certain nutrients, in order to minimize the amount of waste that must be removed from the bloodstream.

Kidney disease diet:

• Low calorie diet
• Fluid restriction
• Low phosphorus diet
• Low potassium diet
• Low protein diet
• Low sodium diet

• Vitamin B supplement
• Food high in calcium:
• Talk to your doctor about whether you should take calcium supplements.

The following are some important questions to ask before and after treatment for kidney disease.

Questions to ask before treatment:

• What are my treatment options?
• Is surgery an option for me?
• What are the risks associated with treatment?
• Do I need to stay in the hospital?
• How long will I be in the hospital?
• What are the complications I should watch for?
• How long will I be on medication?
• What are the potential side effects of my medication?
• Does my medication interact with nonprescription medicines or supplements?
• Should I take my medication with food?

• Do I need to change my diet?
• Do I need to lose weight?
• Are there any medications or supplements I should avoid?
• When can I resume my normal activities?
• When can I return to work?
• What else can I do to reduce my risk for complications?
• What else can I do to reduce my risk for kidney disease?
• How often will I need to see my doctor for checkups?
• What local support and other resources are available?

Physicians from the following specialties evaluate and treat kidney disease:

• Internal Medicine
• Nephrology

Kidney Transplant
When kidney disease results in kidney failure, kidney dialysis is required to remove waste from the bloodstream. However, people with severe kidney disease may undergo kidney transplant. The healthy, transplanted kidney takes over the functions lost by the failed kidneys.

Last Updated: Dec 17, 2010 References
Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD
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