Kidney Failure Center - Alpharetta, GA
Alpharetta Nephrologist Doctors for Kidney FailureType of Physician: Nephrologist What is a Nephrologist? A subspecialty certification by the Board of Internal Medicine; practitioners treat disorders of the kidney, high blood pressure, fluid and mineral imbalance, dialysis of body wastes when the kidneys do not function, and consultation with surgeons about kidney transplantation. Specialty: Nephrology Common Name: Kidney Doctor Nephrologist Doctors in Alpharetta * Mahboob Aamer MD  North Atlanta Kidney Specialists PC  Metro Nephrology  Vainer & Vainer Nephrology  Vainer & Vainer Nephrology  Vainer & Vainer Nephrology  Diabetes & Hypertension Center  Nephrology Medical Assoc of Georgia  Nephrology Medical Assoc of Georgia  James O Wells MD  Atlanta Nephrology Associates PC  Atlanta Nephrology Associates PC  Atlanta Nephrology Associates PC  Atlanta Nephrology Associates PC  Atlanta Nephrology Associates PC  North Atlanta Kidney Specialists PC  Hypertension & Kidney Care of North Atlanta LLC  North Atlanta Kidney Specialists PC  Northside Nephrology PC  Hypertension & Kidney Consultants of Georgia  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  Georgia Kidney Associates Inc  North Georgia Kidney Specialists  North Georgia Kidney Specialists  Kennestone Hospital Hospitalist Group  Nephrology Consultants of Georgia  The Emory Clinic Nephrology  The Emory Clinic Nephrology  Nephrology Consultants of Georgia  The Emory Clinic Nephrology  Piedmont Nephrology & Internal Medicine  The Emory Clinic Nephrology  Eda L Hochgelerent MD & Roderic L Woodson II MD  Nephrology Consultants of Georgia  Piedmont Nephrology & Internal Medicine  Piedmont Nephrology & Internal Medicine  Nephrology Consultants of Georgia  Piedmont Nephrology & Internal Medicine  The Emory Clinic Nephrology  Nephrology Consultants of Georgia  The Emory Clinic Nephrology  Piedmont Nephrology & Internal Medicine  Eda L Hochgelerent MD & Roderic L Woodson II MD  Dinesh K Bhatia MD PC  The Emory Clinic Midtown Nephrology  Dinesh K Bhatia MD PC  The Emory Clinic Midtown Nephrology  The Emory Clinic Midtown Nephrology  The Emory Clinic Midtown Nephrology  The Emory Clinic Midtown Nephrology  The Emory Clinic Midtown Nephrology  The Emory Clinic Midtown Nephrology  Cobb Kidney Center  Franklin Diaz MD  Hypertension & Kidney PC  Eastside Dialysis  Eastside Dialysis  Eastside Dialysis  Northwest Nephrology Clinic  Northwest Nephrology Clinic  Cobb Nephrology  Atlanta Kidney & Hypertension Associates  Atlanta Kidney & Hypertension Associates  Cobb Nephrology  Northwest Nephrology Clinic  Atlanta South Nephrology  Atlanta South Nephrology  Atlanta South Nephrology  Paul H Liebman MD  South Atlanta Kidney Care Center  Southern Crescent Nephrology  Southern Crescent Nephrology  North Georgia Kidney Specialists  Southside Kidney Clinic PC  Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic LLC  Northeast Georgia Diagnostic Clinic LLC  Mohammad R Anjum MD  Southern Crescent Nephrology  Leo Ovadje MD  Nephrology Consultants of Georgia  Maria J Orig MD  Maria J Orig MD  Kidney Clinic  Rosa E Clemente MD  Abid Bashir MD  Abid Bashir MD  Kidney Clinic of Athens  Athens Nephrology Associates  Northeast Georgia Nephrology & Hypertension Clinic  Oconee Medical Group  Oconee Medical Group  Robert C Silver MD  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists PC  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists PC  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists PC Alpharetta, GeorgiaUpcoming Local Events2012-06-09
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Kidney FailureRead the Kidney Failure article » What are the kidneys?The kidneys play key roles in body function, not only by filtering the blood and getting rid of waste products, but also by balancing levels of electrolyte levels in the body, controlling blood pressure, and stimulating the production of red blood cells. The kidneys are located in the abdomen toward the back, normally one on each side of the spine. They get their blood supply through the renal arteries directly from the aorta and send blood back to the heart via the renal veins to the vena cava. (The term "renal" is derived from the Latin name for kidney.) The kidneys have the ability to monitor the amount of body fluid, the concentrations of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, and the acid-base balance of the body. They filter waste products of body metabolism, like urea from protein metabolism and uric acid from DNA breakdown. Two waste products in the blood can be measured: blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (Cr). When blood flows to the kidney, sensors within the kidney decide how much water to excrete as urine, along with what concentration of electrolytes. For example, if a person is dehydrated from exercise or from an illness, the kidneys will hold onto as much water as possible and the urine becomes very concentrated. When adequate water is present in the body, the urine is much more dilute, and the urine becomes clear. This system is controlled by renin, a hormone produced in the kidney that is part of the fluid and blood pressure regulation systems of the body. Kidneys are also the source of erythropoietin in the body, a hormone that stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells. Special cells in the kidney monitor the oxygen concentration in blood. If oxygen levels fall, erythropoietin levels rise and the body starts to manufacture more red blood cells. After the kidneys filter blood, the urine is excreted through... Recommended Reading Related to Kidney FailureCompartment syndrome facts
What is compartment syndrome?Compartment syndrome is a condition that occurs when injury causes generalized painful swelling a... Emergency Contact for Alpharetta
Nearby Alpharetta Hospitals *North Fulton Regional Hospital Emory Johns Creek Hospital Gwinnett Medical Center Duluth Glancy Rehabilitation Center Peachford Behavioral Health System of Atlanta Northside Hospital Forsyth Saint Joseph's Hospital of Atlanta Children's Healthcare at Scottish Rite Northside Hospital Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital Northside Hospital Cherokee Wellstar Kennestone Hospital Gwinnett Medical Center Atlanta VA Medical Center Wesley Woods Geriatric Hospital Devereux Georgia Treatment Network Children's Healthcare at Egleston DeKalb Medical Center Emory University Hospital Emory Adventist Hospital Ridgeview Institute SummitRidge Center for Psychiatry & Addiction Medicine Piedmont Hospital Shepherd Center Hillside Hospital DeKalb Medical Laurel Heights Hospital Emory Eastside Medical Center Kindred Hospital Atlanta Emory University Hospital Midtown Select Specialty Hospital Atlanta Atlanta Medical Center Grady Health System Wellstar Cobb Hospital Georgia Regional Hospital at Atlanta DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Regency Hospital of South Atlanta South Fulton Medical Center Cartersville Medical Center Northeast Georgia Medical Center Rockdale Medical Center Northeast Georgia Medical Center Lanier Park Campus Anchor Hospital Wellstar Paulding Hospital Barrow Regional Medical Center Wellstar Douglas Hospital Southern Regional Medical Center Featured Articles*Provider Directory Terms of Use: The WebMD 'Provider Directory' is provided by WebMD for use by the general public as a quick reference of information about Providers. The Provider Directory is not intended as a tool for verifying the credentials, qualifications, or abilities of any Provider contained therein. Inclusion in the Provider Directory does not imply recommendation or endorsement nor does omission in the Provider Directory imply WebMD disapproval. |
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Related Diseases & Conditions
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Burns (First Aid)
- Burns are categorized by severity as first, second, or third degree. First degree burns are similar to a painful sunburn. The damage is more severe with second degree burns, leading to blistering and more intense pain. The skin turns white and loses sensation with third degree burns. Burn treatment depends upon the location, total burn area, and intensity of the burn.
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Cirrhosis (Liver)
- Cirrhosis of the liver refers to a disease in which normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue caused by alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C. This disease leads to abnormalities in the liver's ability to handle toxins and blood flow, causing internal bleeding, kidney failure, mental confusion, coma, body fluid accumulation, and frequent infections. Symptoms include yellowing of the skin, itching, and fatigue.
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Dehydration
- Dehydration is the excessive loss of body water. There are a number of causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise, and some diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring.
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Gout
- Gout is a condition that results from crystals of uric acid depositing in tissues of the body. Gout is a condition that can lead to abnormally elevated levels of uric acid in the blood, recurring attacks of joint inflammation (arthritis), deposits of hard lumps of uric acid in and around the joints, and decreased kidney function and kidney stones.
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Malaria
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Peripheral Neuropathy
- Peripheral neuropathy is a problem with the functioning of the nerves outside of the spinal cord. Symptoms may include numbness, weakness, burning pain (especially at night), and loss of reflexes. Possible causes may include carpel tunnel syndrome, meralgia paresthetica, vitamin or nutritional deficiencies, and illnesses like diabetes, syphilis, AIDS, and kidney failure. Most causes of peripheral neuropathy can be successfully treated or prevented.
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Renal Osteodystrophy
- 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.
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Pericarditis
- Pericarditis is the inflammation of the pericardial sac that surrounds the heart. The causes of pericarditis include injury from heart attack, heart surgery, trauma; viral or fungal infection, HIV, tumors, mixed connective tissue disease, metabolic disease, medication reactions, or idiopathic. Treatment for pericarditis is generally medication, however, sometimes surgery is necessary.
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Polycystic Kidney Disease
- 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.
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Lupus
- Systemic lupus erythematosus is a condition characterized by chronic inflammation of body tissues caused by autoimmune disease. Lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called discoid lupus. When internal organs are involved, the condition is called systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
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Diabetes Insipidus
- Diabetes insipidus is a condition in which the patient has frequent urination. Symptoms of diabetes insipidus include irritable, listless, fever, vomiting, or diarrhea due to the loss of large volumes of urine. There are three types of diabetes insipidus, central, nephrogenic, dipsogenic, and gestational. Treatment depends upon the type of diabetes insipidus.
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Pulmonary Hypertension
- Pulmonary hypertension is an abnormal elevation of the pressure in the pulmonary circulation caused by the constriction of the blood vessels that supply blood to the lungs. Shortness of breath and dizziness are symptoms of pulmonary hypertension. Treatment involves diuretics, blood thinners, calcium channel blockers, and using supplemental oxygen to increase blood oxygen levels.
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Low Blood Pressure
- Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include light-headedness, dizziness, or even fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain. Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.
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Hyperkalemia (High Blood Potassium)
- Hyperkalemia is an abnormally high level of potassium in the blood. Symptoms of hyperkalemia include nausea, fatigue, tingling sensations, or muscle weakness. Hyperkalemia may also cause no symptoms. Slow heartbeat and weak pulse are more serious symptoms. Causes of hyperkalemia include kidney dysfunction, medications, adrenal gland diseases, and potassium shifts. Treatment of hyperkalemia is dependant upon the cause.
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Fabry Disease
- 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.
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Restless Leg Syndrome
- 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.
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Hydronephrosis
- Hydronephrosis is a condition in which the kidney swells, due to a backup of urine. Hydronephrosis generally occurs with another disease.Symptoms of hydronephrosis include nausea, vomiting, urinary tract infection, fever, painful urination, increased urinary frequency and urgency, flank pain, and swelling of the abdomen. Treatment of hydronephrosis depends on the cause.
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Anemia
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Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome
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Microsporidiosis
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Disease Prevention in Men
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Renal Artery Stenosis
- Renal artery stenosis is a narrowing of the diameter of the renal arteries. When the renal arteries narrow, the result is restricted blood flow to the kidneys, which may lead to impaired kidney function and high blood pressure (referred to as renovascular hypertension (RVHT). Renal artery stenosis can occur in one or both kidneys. The primary cause of renal artery stenosis is atherosclerosis. Risk factors for renal artery stenosis include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, age, cigarette smoking, and diabetes. Symptoms of renal artery stenosis include high blood pressure that does not respond to treatment, severe high blood pressure in individuals younger than 30 or greater than 50 years of age. Renal artery stenosis is diagnosed with imaging and functional tests. Treatment for renal artery stenosis include medication or surgery.
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Hypertensive Kidney Disease
- 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.
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Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
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Coma
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Viral Hemorrhagic Fever
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Sepsis
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Hypercalcemia (Elevated Calcium Levels)
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Rhabdomyolysis
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