Kidney Disorders

The kidneys filter our blood, so the body keeps nutrients and gets rid of waste and extra water. When kidney diseases cause the kidneys to fail, these wastes build up in the blood and can cause damage to other parts of the body, such as the heart, blood vessels and skin.

Treatment of kidney disorders may involve dietary changes, lifestyle changes, anti-inflammatory drugs, and/or carefully controlling blood pressure and diabetes. For patients with end-stage kidney disease (when kidneys are no longer functioning), treatment usually involves dialysis (cleaning the blood by inserting a special fluid into the body, or by sending blood through a filtering machine) or kidney transplantation.

UHN Resources

UHN Brochures and Pamphlets

•	Adrenal MIBG Scan
•	Caring for Your Nephrostomy Tube
•	Disinfection of Your Fistula Clamps after Dialysis
•	Getting a New Kidney
•	Hemodialysis Exercise Program
•	Nephrectomy
•	Nocturnal Hemodialysis
•	Nutrition and Hemodialysis: What Do I Need to Know?
•	Peritoneal Dialysis Catheter Insertion
	Before Operation	Going Home
•	Renal Captopril Scan
•	Renal Lasix Scan
•	Renal Management Clinic
•	Renal Scan with Blood GFR Determination
•	Routine Blood Tests if You are a Hemodialysis Patient
•	Sexuality and End Stage Renal Disease
•	Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
	Guide to Prepare for the Surgery	Guide after the Surgery
•	Welcome to the UHN Hemodialysis
•	Your Percutaneous Nephrostomy Tube

UHN Clinics or Centres

• Home Hemodialysis Unit
• Home Peritoneal Dialysis Unit
• Hemodialysis In-Centre
• Peritoneal Dialysis Unit
• Renal Clinic (TWH)
• Renal Management Clinic (TGH)
• Renal Stone Clinic
• Transplantation - Kidney

Related Web Sites

•	Kidney Foundation of Canada
	Click on “Publications” to view the patient manuals, brochures and fact sheets.
•	Kidney Diseases, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive & Kidney Diseases
	Information about the description, treatment options, and management of the diseases. Easy-to-read and Spanish versions are available
•	National Kidney Foundation
	Click on “Patient and Family Education” for extensive kidney disease information. Available in Spanish as well.

•	Kidney Diseases Dictionary
	This dictionary defines words that are often used when people talk or write about kidney diseases. It is designed for people who have kidney diseases and their families and friends.

•	UpToDate Patient Information - Kidney Disease
	Information written for patients and their families provides an overview, and a good deal of detail, on kidney disease.

Support Groups

•	Home Peritoneal Dialysis Patient & Family Group
•	Pre-Transplant Support Group
•	Post-Transplant Support Group
•	Post-Transplant Spousal & Family Support Group