Sometimes called renal medicine, nephrology is a specialty within the internal medicine field related to kidney care. It is often connected with hypertension or high blood pressure. Nephrologists are medical professionals who diagnose, treat, and manage acute and chronic kidney problems and diseases.
Nephrology is a specialty of internal medicine that focuses on the treatment of diseases that affect the kidneys.
You have two kidneys. They’re located below your ribcage on either side of your spine. The kidneys have several vital functions, including:
Removing waste and excess fluid from the blood
Maintaining your body’s electrolyte balance
Releasing hormones with functions such as managing blood pressure
A nephrologist is a type of doctor that specializes in treating diseases of the kidney. Not only do nephrologists have expertise on diseases that specifically affect the kidney, but they’re also very knowledgeable about how kidney disease or dysfunction can affect other parts of your body.
Although your primary care doctor will work to help prevent and treat early stages of kidney disease, a nephrologist may be called in to help diagnose and treat more severe or complex kidney conditions.
Conditions a nephrologist treats
Nephrologists can work with you to help diagnose and treat the following conditions:
Urine tests
Urinalysis. This urine sample can be tested with a dipstick for pH as well as the presence of abnormal amounts of blood, glucose, protein, or bacteria.
Albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR). This urine test measures the amount of the protein albumin in your urine. Albumin in the urine is a sign of kidney dysfunction.
24-hour urine collection. This method uses a special container to collect all of the urine that you produce during a 24-hour period. Further testing can be performed on this sample.
Creatinine clearance. This is a measure of creatinine from both a blood sample and a 24-hour urine sample that’s used to calculate the amount of creatinine that’s exited the blood and moved to the urine.
Your primary care doctor can help prevent and treat the early stages of kidney disease. However, sometimes these early stages may not have any symptoms or may have nonspecific symptoms such as fatigue, sleep problems, and changes in the amount you urinate.
Regular testing can monitor your kidney function, particularly if you’re at risk for kidney disease. These groups include people with:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Heart disease
A family history of kidney problems
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