Kidney Care

Your kidneys are vital to your health. They remove excess waste and fluid, control blood pressure, keep bones healthy, and more. If problems keep your kidneys from working like they should, Virtua nephrologists and other specialists provide the diagnosis and treatment you need.

Signs and Symptoms of Kidney Disease

More than 37 million American adults have kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), the gradual loss of your kidneys’ ability to remove waste and excess fluid from the body, is the most common form of kidney disease.

In the early stages of kidney disease, you may have few, if any, symptoms. So you may not know you even have the disease until it has reached a more advanced stage and your kidneys have lost their ability to function.

Symptoms of kidney disease include:

• Swelling, or edema, in your legs, feet, or ankles as the body is unable to get rid of extra fluid and salt
• Higher blood pressure that is difficult to control
• Changes in urination habits, going more or less than normal
• Blood in your urine
• Bubbles in your urine
• Fatigue or trouble concentrating
• Dry or itchy skin
• Muscle cramps
• Lower back pain
• Poor appetite
• Unexplained weight loss

Types of Kidney Disorders

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Kidney failure (also called end-stage renal disease)
• Kidney cancer
• Acute kidney injury
• Pregnancy-related kidney problems
• Kidney stones
• Kidney infections
• Kidney cysts
• High blood pressure
• Congenital kidney abnormalities (kidney problems present at birth)

Kidney Disease Diagnosis at Virtua

If you experience symptoms like swelling in your legs, feet, or ankles; rising blood pressure; or you’re running to the bathroom more than you used to, contact your health care provider.

Your doctor will order an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) screening. This is a blood test that measures your creatinine levels and your kidneys’ ability to filter toxins and other wastes.

In adults, a normal eGFR is more than 90. An eGFR of at least 60 and a finding of protein in your urine could mean you have stage 1 or 2 kidney disease. An eGFR of lower than 60 indicates you have stages 3 to 5 kidney disease, and should be treated by a nephrologist.

Other tests you may undergo include:

• Serum creatinine and urea nitrogen blood tests that look at how well your kidney is ridding the body of wastes
• Albumin-to-creatinine urine test that also looks at waste levels
• Renal ultrasound and computerized tomography (CT) that provide detailed images of the inner structures of your kidneys
• Biopsy so doctors can analyze a sample of your kidney tissue

Kidney Disease Treatment at Virtua

Early treatment for kidney issues usually consists of managing your symptoms, reducing complications, and slowing the progression of your disease. This may include:

• Kidney function monitoring
• Medication to lower your blood pressure and cholesterol
• Medication to relieve swelling
• Lifestyle changes, such as eating a low-sodium, heart-healthy diet

Advanced Treatment Options

If your kidneys can no longer rid your body of waste and excess fluid, a condition called end-stage renal disease, you may require additional treatment. This can include:

• Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis to filter waste from your blood
• Kidney transplant
• Renal autotransplant, in which a surgeon removes a kidney, fixes its vascular or ureter problems, and then implants it back into the body

Virtua is the only provider of kidney, pancreas, and liver transplants in South Jersey. If you are in need of a new kidney, your doctor with work with our transplant team to schedule your evaluation.