Treatment for kidney failure is expensive, but Federal health insurance plans
pay much of the cost, usually up to 80 percent. Often, private insurance or
State programs pay the rest. Your social worker can help you locate resources
for financial assistance. For more information, see the NIDDK fact sheet
Financial
Help for Treatment of Kidney Failure.
Hope Through Research
The NIDDK, through its Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic
Diseases, supports several programs and studies devoted to improving treatment
for patients with progressive kidney disease and permanent kidney failure,
including patients on hemodialysis.
The End-Stage Renal Disease Program promotes research to reduce
medical problems from bone, blood, nervous system, metabolic,
gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and endocrine abnormalities in kidney
failure and to improve the effectiveness of dialysis and transplantation.
The research focuses on evaluating different hemodialysis schedules and on
finding the most useful information for measuring dialysis adequacy. The
program also seeks to increase kidney graft and patient survival and to
maximize quality of life.
The HEMO Study, completed in 2002, tested the theory that a
higher dialysis dose and/or high-flux membranes would reduce patient
mortality (death) and morbidity (medical problems). Doctors at 15 medical
centers recruited more than 1,800 hemodialysis patients and randomly
assigned them to high or standard dialysis doses and high- or low-flux
filters. The study found no increase in the health or survival of patients
who had a higher dialysis dose, who dialyzed with high-flux filters, or who
did both.
The U.S. Renal Data System (USRDS) collects, analyzes, and
distributes information about the use of dialysis and transplantation to
treat kidney failure in the United States. The USRDS is funded directly by
the NIDDK in conjunction with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
The USRDS publishes an Annual Data Report, which identifies the total
population of people being treated for kidney failure; reports on incidence,
prevalence, death rates, and trends over time; and develops data on the
effects of various treatment approaches. The report also helps identify
problems and opportunities for more focused special studies of renal
research issues.
The Hemodialysis Vascular Access Clinical Trials Consortium is
conducting a series of multicenter, clinical trials of drug therapies to
reduce the failure and complication rate of arteriovenous (AV) grafts and
fistulas in hemodialysis. These studies are randomized and placebo
controlled, which means the studies meet the highest standard for scientific
accuracy. AV grafts and fistulas prepare the arteries and veins for regular
dialysis. See the NIDDK fact sheet Vascular Access for Hemodialysis for more
information. Recently developed drugs to prevent blood clots may be
evaluated in these large clinical trials.
The U.S. Government does not endorse or favor any specific commercial
product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this
document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of
the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, the omission does not
mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
Kidney failure can occur from an acute event or a chronic condition or disease. Prerenal kidney failure is caused by blood loss, dehydration, medication. Some of the renal causes of kidney failure are from sepsis, medications, rhabdomyolysis, multiple myeloma, and acute glomerulonephritis. Post renal causes of kidney failure include bladder obstruction, prostate problems, tumors, or kidney stones. Treatment options included diet, medications, or dialysis.
Headaches can be divided into two categories: primary headaches and secondary headaches. Migraine headaches, tension headaches, and cluster headaches are considered primary headaches. Secondary headaches are caused by disease. Headache symptoms vary with the headache type. Over-the-counter pain relievers provide short-term relief for most headaches.
Anemia is the condition of having less than the normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
Menopause is the time in a woman's life when menstrual periods permanently stop, also called the “change of life." Menopause symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, irregular vaginal bleeding, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse, urinary incontinence, weight gain, and emotional symptoms such as mood swings. Treatment of menopausal symptoms varies, and should be discussed with your physician.
There are several types of kidney cancer, including renal cell cancer (renal adenocarcinoma or hypernephroma), transitional cell carcinoma, and Wilms tumor. Symptoms of kidney cancer include blood in the urine, an abdominal lump or mass, chronic pain in the side, and tiredness. Treatment of kidney cancer--which may include surgery, arterial embolization, radiation therapy, biological therapy or chemotherapy--depends upon the stage of the disease and the patient's overall health.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS or restless legs syndrome) is a common cause for painful legs that typically eases with motion, and becomes worse and more noticeable at rest. This characteristic nighttime worsening can frequently lead to insomnia. Treatment of the symptoms of restless leg syndrome is generally with medication as well as treating any underlying condition causing restless leg syndrome.
Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA), and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed and evaluated through patient history, physical examination and polysomnography. There are many complications related to obstructive sleep apnea. Treatments are surgical and non-surgical.
Amyloidosis is a group of diseases resulting from abnormal deposition of certain proteins (amyloids) in various bodily areas. The amyloid proteins may either be deposited in one particular area of the body (localized amyloidosis) or they may be deposited throughout the body (systemic amyloidosis). There are three types of systemic amyloidosis: primary (AL), secondary (AA), and familial (ATTR). Primary amyloidosis is not associated with any other diseases and is considered a disease entity of its own. Secondary amyloidosis occurs as a result of another illness. Familial Mediterranean Fever is a form of familial (inherited) amyloidosis. Amyloidosis treatment involves treating the underlying illness and correcting organ failure.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is characterized by numerous cysts in the kidneys. Polycystic kidney disease is a genetic disorder. There are two major inherited forms of PKD, autosomal dominant PKD, and autosomal recessive PKD. Symptoms include headaches, urinary tract infections, blood in the urine, liver and pancreatic cysts, abnormal heart valves, high blood pressure, kidney stones, aneurysms, and diverticulosis. Diagnosis of PKD is generally with ultrasound, CT or MRI scan. There is no cure for PKD, so treatment of symptoms is usually the general protocol.
High blood pressure can damage the kidneys and is one of the leading causes of kidney failure (end-stage renal kidney disease). Kidney damage, like hypertension, can be unnoticeable and detected only through medical tests. If you have kidney disease, you should control your blood pressure. Other treatment options include prescription medications.
Arsenic comes in two forms, inorganic and organic. Organic arsenic poisoning is usually not poisonous to humans; however, inorganic arsenic in large enough amounts can lead to shock and death. Symptoms of arsenic poisoning include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dehydration, dark urine, vertigo, delirium, shock, and death. Treatment for arsenic poisoning includes Hemodialysis and a variety of drugs.
Fabry disease (Fabry's disease, alpha-galactosidase-A) is a genetic disorder with symptoms such as burning sensations in the hands, small-raised reddish-purplish blemishes on the skin, fever, decreases sweating, and GI difficulties. Fabry disease patients are at increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, kidney failure, and stroke. Symptoms of Fabry disease can be treated with medication.
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a diseases in which blood clots within the capillaries. Causes associated with HUS include E. Coli, birth control pills, pneumonia, medications such as chemotherapy, Ticlid, and quinine. Symptoms of HUS include gastroenteritis, abdominal cramping, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea. Diagnosis of HUS includes medical history, physical examination, and medical tests. Treatment includes rest, fluids, possible hospitalization for blood transfusion or complications due to kidney failure.
Renal osteodystrophy is a bone disease. The kidneys fail to maintain required levels of phosphorous and calcium in the blood. Renal osteodystrophy is common in patients with kidney disease and affects dialysis patients. Diagnosis is performed with a blood sample, and in some cases a bone biopsy. Medication is the general treatment for renal osteodystrophy.
Depression in the elderly is very common. That doesn't mean, though, it's normal. Treatment may involve antidepressants, psychotherapy, or electroconvulsive therapy.
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