Kidney Failure Center - Chesterfield, MO
Chesterfield 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 Chesterfield * Medical Specialists of St Luke's  Medical Specialists of St Luke's  Medical Specialists of St Luke's  Medical Specialists of St Luke's  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists  Renal Consultants  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists  Missouri Renal Medicine Inc  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists  Missouri Renal Medicine Inc  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists  Missouri Renal Medicine Inc  Paul M Stein MD  Bi-State Medical Consultants  St Charles Nephrology  Midwest Nephrology Associates Inc  Midwest Nephrology Associates Inc  Metro Hypertension & Kidney Center  St Louis County Nephrology  Northwest Internal Medicine Specialists  J Satya Sagar MD  St Louis Nephrology Associates  St Louis Nephrology Associates  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists LLC  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists LLC  St Louis Nephrology Associates  St Louis Nephrology Associates  St Louis Nephrology Associates  Nephrology & Hypertension Specialists LLC  James Purtell MD  St Louis Nephrology Associates  Henry E Purcell MD  Henry E Purcell MD  Theodore Otti MD  Washington University Nephrology  Washington University Transplant Surgery  University of Missoure Reno Outpatient  Metro St Louis Renal Services Inc  Nephrology Division  St Louis University Hospital Surgery  Nephrology Division  Nephrology Division  Nephrology Division  Douglass T Domoto MD  Renal Consultants  Renal Consultants  Chronic Kidney Disease Center  Metro Hypertension & Kidney Center  Chronic Kidney Disease Center  Renal Consultants  Renal Consultants  Metro Hypertension & Kidney Center  Metro Hypertension & Kidney Center Chesterfield, MissouriUpcoming 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 Chesterfield
Nearby Chesterfield Hospitals *St John's Mercy Rehabilitation Hospital St Luke's Hospital Dubuis Hospital of St Louis St Luke's Urgent Care Center on Clarkson Road Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital St John's Mercy Medical Center Missouri Baptist Medical Center Center Pointe Hospital St Luke's Urgent Care Center in St Charles Des Peres Hospital Shriners Hospital for Children Ranken Jordan Pediatric Rehabilitation SSM DePaul Health Center SSM St Joseph Health Center Barnes-Jewish St Peter's Hospital St John's Urgent Care Center Saint Peters SSM St Clare Health Center St Luke's Urgent Care Center in Fenton St John's Mercy Urgent Care Center Progress West HealthCare Center St Luke's Urgent Care Center at WingHaven Hawthorn Children's Psychiatric Hospital SSM Rehab SSM St Mary's Health Center Kindred Hospital St Anthony's St Anthony's Medical Center Forest Park Community Hospital Select Specialty Hospital St Louis Northwest HealthCare Metropolitan St Louis Psychiatric Center St Louis Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center Barnes-Jewish Hospital North Campus Barnes-Jewish Hospital South Campus Kindred Hospital St Louis SSM St Joseph Hospital West St Louis Children's Hospital The Rehabilitation Institute of St Louis Saint Louis University Hospital SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center St Louis VA Medical Center Jefferson Barracks St Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division St Alexius Hospital Broadway Campus Christian Hospital NE SSM St Joseph Health Center Wentzville Kenneth Hall Regional Hospital Gateway Regional Medical Center Touchette Regional Hospital St John's Mercy Hospital St Clare's Hospital St Anthony's Health Center Alton Memorial Hospital Memorial Hospital Belleville Jefferson Regional Medical Center Lincoln County Medical Center  St Elizabeth's Hospital Belleville  Anderson Hospital  Jersey Community Hospital 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
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Renal Osteodystrophy
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Pericarditis
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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
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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
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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
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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)
- Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infection is the most common type of infection acquired by patients while hospitalized. Patients at risk for VRE are those who are already ill, and hospitalized, including individuals with diabetes, elderly, ICU patients, kidney failure patients, or patients requiring catheters. Enterococci can survive for months in the digestive tract and female genital tract. Other risk factors for acquiring VRE include those how have been previously treated with vancomycin and combinations of other antibiotics. Treatment of VRE is generally with other antibiotics other than vancomycin. Prevention of VRE can be achieved by proper hand hygiene.
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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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