Genetic risks of kidney disease
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- Genetic Risks and Types of Kidney Disease
Knowing which type you have
If you have kidney disease or another kidney condition, ask your healthcare professional to clearly explain what type you have.
Ask, what caused it, how best to look after your kidneys, and what your condition means for you and your lifestyle.
The more knowledge you have, the better you can manage your condition. There may be steps you can take to lessen damage to your kidneys.
Types of kidney disease
The two main types of kidney disease are short-term (acute kidney injury) and lifelong (chronic kidney disease).
Most people recover fully from a short-term kidney disease, but it can increase their risk of developing a chronic kidney disease later in life.
An acute kidney injury (AKI) is the temporary loss of kidney function lasting less than three months.
It typically has a fast onset. Some causes include of AKI an injury or illness affecting the kidneys, drugs, or blockages of the kidney. Some people will need a short course of dialysis to help their kidneys recover.
Many people fully recover from an acute kidney injury and go on to live a normal life. Those with severe damage have a higher risk of developing chronic (or ongoing) kidney disease later on.
Because of this, if you have had an acute kidney injury, it’s important to properly monitor the health of your kidneys for the rest of your life. One way to do this is by staying on top of your diet and nutrition. You should also have your kidney function checked every two years by your GP.
Chronic kidney disease occurs when your kidneys have been damaged in a way that cannot be reversed. To be diagnosed with a chronic kidney disease, the condition will need to have been present for at least three months.
You can live a normal life for many years with chronic kidney disease. However, many people will experience a continued decline in their kidney’s ability to filter their blood and will eventually need kidney replacement therapy. This may be in the form of dialysis or a kidney transplant.
There are many potential causes for chronic kidney diseases, including genetics, infection, immune disorders that attack your kidneys, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
More Kidney conditions
FSGS is a kidney condition that affects the tiny filters inside the kidney (glomeruli). This disease starts when small group (‘focal’) of certain parts (‘segmental’) of the glomeruli are damaged.
Understanding what kidney stones are, how they are treated, and how you take measures to prevent them is all part of caring for your kidneys.
Kidney cancer starts from the cells of the kidney. Find out causes, risks, symptoms and types, plus learn about different kidney cancer stages.
People with diabetes are at risk of diabetic kidney disease. Learn about symptoms, treatments, and find out if you’re at risk.
Multicystic dysplastic kidney is a condition that occurs when one of the kidneys doesn’t develop correctly in the womb before birth.
Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease, meaning it’s passed down from your family. Thousands of fluid filled sacs, called cysts, grow in the kidney.
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