Idea Transcript
D ECEMBER
31 Kidney disease tests and treatments But many people go undiagnosed Published: March 2008
Protecting the body's filters | Early detection is critical | Stopping the damage | How to read your urine
The vast majority of people with kidney disease don't know it. That's because it damages the organs slowly over many years before causing symptoms. And left untreated, the condition can eventually require people to spend hours hooked up to a dialysis machine or get a kidney transplant. Even mild kidney problems can contribute to anemia, bone loss, worsened heart disease, and premature death. All that is particularly worrisome now because several factors have conspired to make kidney disease more common than ever. One is the increasing number of people who take multiple medications, which travel through the kidney as they Kidneys can be damaged by drugs and disease. leave the body, taxing the organ. Another is the growing, and related, epidemic of type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure, both of which further strain the kidneys. People over age 60 are especially vulnerable both because they tend to take more drugs, and because kidney function normally declines somewhat with age.
Protecting the body's filters Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to ward off or rein in kidney damage. And you might be able to spot some early warning signs of kidney problems by watching for changes in your urinary habits or your urine's appearance (see the accompanying chart, How to read your urine). More important, improved—but underused—tests can now help diagnose the problem early, when it's most treatable. Your blood passes through a labyrinth of tiny filters in the kidneys that separate substances that the body needs, such as calcium, sodium, and water, from wastes created by the breakdown of food and drugs. The kidneys maintain a balance of the useful substances and eliminate the waste and excess fluid as urine. Diabetes and high blood pressure can overload the kidneys' precision workings, causing irreversible scarring and shrinkage. So one key to preventing kidney damage is making the lifestyle changes—notably consuming a healthy diet and exercising regularly—that combat both health problems. Drugs to lower high blood pressure or control diabetes are also often necessary. It's especially important that people with diabetes take ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril, and generic) or ARBs such as candesartan (Atacand), which offer strong kidney protection. But many other medications, especially when used excessively or in high dosages, can harm the kidneys. The biggest concerns are probably ibuprofen (Advil and generic), naproxen (Aleve and generic), and related nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. And cholesterol-lowering statin drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) and lovastatin (Mevacor and generic) can, in rare cases, harm the muscles, releasing a protein that can seriously damage the kidneys. Make sure you take all medications according to directions, and periodically review all your drugs and supplements with your doctor. And since research suggests that kidney stones may also damage the organs, it makes sense to prevent the painful crystals from forming in the first place. The most effective step is drinking plenty of liquids. But you might want to go easy on colas: Some evidence suggests their high levels of phosphoric acid may damage the kidneys, possibly by fostering the growth of stones.
Early detection is critical People with declining kidney function typically experience no symptoms until failure is imminent. And until recently doctors had no good way to detect early signs of kidney failure. The most accurate measure required 24-hour urine collection. Simpler tests were so insensitive that by the time they showed abnormalities, the kidneys had often already lost more than half their filtering capacity. But now researchers have validated a faster, easier way to detect kidney trouble: a blood test that is factored into a formula that also uses age, gender, and race to estimate the kidney's filtration rate, combined with a test to measure excreted protein. Testing is especially important if you're age 60 or over; have a personal history of diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or any kidney disease; or have a family history of kidney disease. An abnormal result, especially on the protein test, does not necessarily mean that you have kidney damage, since a bladder infection or other problems can increase protein excretion. If you have an abnormal result, get retested in a few months. A second abnormal finding indicates the need for further investigation.
Stopping the damage If you are diagnosed with kidney disease, there are certain key steps you can take to help contain the damage. "It's not a hopeless diagnosis," says David Ellison, M.D., a kidney specialist and professor at Oregon Health and Science University and the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Lifestyle changes that help prevent the disease can also slow it down. And certain steps become especially important: Aggressively control high blood pressure and diabetes. For blood pressure, that means lower-thannormal targets. Get your systolic level under 130 millimeters of mercury and your diastolic under 80 mm/Hg, with drugs if necessary. ACE inhibitors and ARBs are especially good choices because of their proven ability to protect the kidneys. For diabetes, research shows that every percentage-point drop in the A1C blood test—a measure of blood-sugar control—can cut the risk of kidney disease and other complications by up to about 40 percent. The American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C target of 7 percent, but you should ask your doctor about the pros and cons of aiming even lower. Cut back on sodium and possibly potassium. Kidney damage impairs excretion of those electrolytes, and reducing sodium intake can help lower blood pressure. Lose excess weight. In one recent study, overweight people who had kidney disease suffered organ failure two to five times faster than individuals with a normal weight. Limit protein in your diet. Too much can overtax diseased kidneys. So talk with a nutritionist about how to cut back on the amount in your diet.
How to read your urine Fortunately, no one still practices the medieval art of assessing health by tasting the urine. But changes in your urine or your urinary habits can provide warning signs of danger from disease or certain drugs—or they may be harmless changes caused by food, supplements, or certain other drugs. This table can help you make that distinction. In general, consult your physician promptly about a urinary change if you have not consumed any of the benign substances listed below, or if you have any of the potentially harmful conditions or are taking any of the drugs listed. (Note that many of the drugs are available as generics.) All but one of the potentially harmful medications affect the urine by impairing kidney function; the exception is warfarin, which can redden the urine by causing bleeding. You may not have to contact your doctor quickly in two cases: You can usually treat dehydration simply by drinking more fluids if there are no other symptoms; and you can usually wait a day or two before calling your doctor about a suspected urinary-tract infection, unless you have severe symptoms, such as back pain or fever.
Urinary signs or symptoms
Benign causes
Potentially harmful causes
Foods
Drugs and supplements
Drugs
Diseases and disorders
Strong or foulsmelling urine
Asparagus
Vitamin B6
None
Dehydration, urinary-tract infection, uncontrolled diabetes
Black or dark urine
Fava beans
Laxatives containing cascara(Nature’s Remedy), high-dose iron
Statin drugs such as atorvastatin (Lipitor) or simvastatin (Zocor)
Liver or kidney disease
Cloudy or murky urine
None
None
None
Urinary-tract infection
Green or blue urine
Food color additives
Artificial dyes in many drugs, amitriptyline, cimetidine (Tagamet)
None
Pseudomonas infection; “blue diaper syndrome,” an abnormality in the ability to digest tryptophan
Pink, red, or smoky brown urine
Beets, blackberries, other red foods
Laxatives containing cascara (see above)
Methyldopa, phenytoin (Dilantin), statins (see above), warfarin (Coumadin)
Kidney disease, rare genetic disorders, or bleeding caused by infection, prostate enlargement, kidney infection, kidney or bladder stone, or kidney, bladder, or prostate tumor
Yellow or orange urine
Carrots, rhubarb, beets, food color additives
Laxatives containing cascara (see above) or senna (Senokot); fluorescein (a dye used in certain eye exams); phenazopyridine (Pyridium); aloe; riboflavin; vitamins A, B12
Rifampin (Rifadin), sulfa drugs (Gantrisin), warfarin (see above)
Dehydration caused by exercise, excessive heat, fever, or insufficient fluid intake
Decreased urination
None
Anticholinergics such as atropine (Sal-Tropine) and hyoscyamine (Levbid), contrast agents for imaging tests
Methotrexate (Trexall), sulfa drugs (Gantrisin)
Dehydration, acute or chronic kidney disease
Frequent urination (more than four to six times a day or waking more than once a night to urinate)
Excessive water consumption, caffeinated or alcoholic beverages
Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HydroDIURIL, Microzide); contrast agents for imaging tests
Lithium (Eskalith), phenytoin (Dilantin), tetracyclines (Declomycin)
Urinary-tract infection, enlarged or infected prostate, uncontrolled diabetes, sickle-cell anemia, heart or kidney failure
Hesitant urination (difficult to start)
None
Anticholinergics (see above), various cold medicines such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), diphenhydramine (Benadryl Allergy); tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline
None
Enlarged or infected prostate gland, urinary-tract infection, urethral stricture
Painful or burning urination
None
Cold medicines (see above)
None
Urinary-tract infection, vaginal or vulval irritation, sexually transmitted diseases
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