GLOSSARY
A
Abdomen: The belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the
chest and the pelvis. The abdomen is separated anatomically from the chest by the
diaphragm, the powerful muscle spanning the body cavity below the lungs.
Abdominal: Relating to the abdomen.
Abdominal cavity: The cavity within the abdomen, the space between the abdominal wall
and the spine.
Abnormal: Not normal. Deviating from the usual structure, position, condition, or behavior. In
referring to a growth, abnormal may mean that it is cancerous or premalignant (likely to
become cancer).
Absorption: Uptake. In the biomedical sciences, absorption has diverse specific meanings.
Access: A means to get into the body. Accesses to the bloodstream for haemodialysis are
fistulas, grafts, catheters, etc. Access to the peritoneal cavity for peritoneal dialysis is a
catheter.
ACE (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme) Inhibitor: A medicine used to treat high blood
pressure. ACE inhibitors keep the body from making the hormone angiotensin. Often, ACE
inhibitors are used to slow kidney damage. See our page about high blood pressure for more
information.
Acetaminophen: A pain reliever and fever reducer. Brand name: Tylenol. The exact
mechanism of action of acetaminophen is not known. Acetaminophen relieves pain by
elevating the pain threshold (that is, by requiring a greater amount of pain to develop before it
is felt by a person). Acetaminophen reduces fever through its action on the heat-regulating
centre (the "thermostat") of the brain. Generic is available.
Acid-base balance: Acid-base balance refers to the mechanisms the body uses to keep its
fluids close to neutral pH (that is, neither basic nor acidic) so that the body can function
normally.
Acidosis: Too much acid in the body, a distinctly abnormal condition resulting from the
accumulation of acid or from the depletion of alkaline reserves. In acidosis, the pH of the
blood is abnormally low. Acidosis is associated with diabetic ketoacidosis, lung disease, and
severe kidney disease. The opposite of acidosis is alkalosis in which there is too high a pH
due to excess base or insufficient acid in the body.
Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often means an illness that is of
short
duration,
rapidly
progressive,
and
in
need
of
urgent
care.
Acute Renal Failure: When the kidneys suddenly stop working. This can be caused by
many health problems. In these cases, kidneys can sometimes recover from almost complete
loss of function.
Adequacy: A term that refers to how well your dialysis is working. To measure adequacy,
tests are carried out to see if enough fluid and waste products are being removed from your
blood
ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone): A natural chemical in the body that slows urine flow. Some
children who wet their beds regularly may not have enough antidiuretic hormone.
Aging: The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and
environmentally modulated.
Albumin: The main protein in human blood and the key to the regulation of the osmotic
pressure of blood. Chemically, albumin is soluble in water, precipitated by acid, and
coagulated by heat.
Albuminuria: More than normal amounts of a protein called albumin in the urine.
Albuminuria may be a sign of kidney disease or other health issues.
ALG: Abbreviation for anti-lymphocyte globulin, a strong treatment against the rejection of a
transplant kidney. ATG, anti-thymocyte globulin, used for the same purpose. Amyloidosis: A
condition in which a protein-like material builds up in one or more organs. This material
cannot be broken down and interferes with the normal function of that organ. People who
have been on dialysis for several years may develop amyloidosis because dialysis fails to
filter this protein-like material out of the blood.
Alkali: A substance that is the chemical opposite of an acid.
Allograft: An organ or tissue transplant from one person to another.
Alphacalcidol: A vitamin D supplement.
Alport Syndrome: An inherited condition that causes kidney disease. It usually appears
during childhood. It is more serious in boys than in girls. The condition can lead to end stage
renal disease (ESRD), hearing and vision problems. Symptoms may include chronic blood
and protein in the urine.
Altruistic donor: A kidney donor who gives a kidney for no material reward. This may be a
family member, but may also include a living donor who gives a transplant to someone they
have never met.
Aluminum: A naturally occurring element that makes up about 8% of the surface of the earth
and is always found combined with other elements such as oxygen, silicon, and fluorine.
Aluminum is is the most common metallic element in the earth's crust but has no clear
biologic role. Everyone is exposed to low levels of aluminum from food, air, and water.
Exposure to high levels of aluminum may result in respiratory problems (aluminosis).
Inhalation of bauxite (aluminum ore) fumes may cause pulmonary fibrosis. Aluminum in the
bloodstream
may
lead
to
neurological
symptoms
and
may
be
fatal.
Ambulatory: Able to ambulate, to walk about, not bed-ridden or hospitalised.
Amino acids: Substances from which proteins are built up.
Anaemia: The condition of having too few red blood cells. Healthy red blood cells carry
oxygen throughout the body. If the blood is low on red blood cells, the body does not get
enough oxygen. People with anaemia may be tired and pale and may feel their heartbeat
change. Anaemia is common in people with chronic kidney disease or those on dialysis. (See
also erythropoietin.)
Analgesic: A drug or medicine given to reduce pain without resulting in loss of
consciousness. Analgesics are sometimes referred to as painkiller medications. There are
many different types of analgesic medications available in both prescription and over-thecounter preparations. Examples of analgesic drugs include aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol),
ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib, and
narcotic drugs including morphine, oxycodone, and hydrocodone (Vicodin). Analgesics may
also be combined with other drugs in some types of medications (for example, analgesics are
combined with decongestants and/or antihistamine in many over-the-counter cold remedies).
Analgesic-Associated Kidney Disease: Loss of kidney function from long-term use of
analgesic (pain-relieving) medicines. Analgesics that combine aspirin and acetaminophen
are most dangerous to the kidneys.
Analysis: A psychology term for processes used to gain understanding of complex emotional
or behavioural issues.
Anatomy: The study of form. Gross anatomy involves structures that can be seen with the
naked eye. It is as opposed to microscopic anatomy (or histology) which involves structures
seen under the microscope. Traditionally, both gross and microscopic anatomy have been
studied in the first year of medical school in the U.S. The most celebrated textbook of
anatomy in the English-speaking world is Gray's Anatomy, still a useful reference book. The
word "anatomy" comes from the Greek ana- meaning up or through + tome meaning a
cutting. Anatomy was once a "cutting up" because the structure of the body was originally
learned through dissecting it, cutting it up. The abbreviation for anatomy is anat.
ANCA: is an abbreviation for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. This is a type of antibody
that is associated with types of vasculitis.
Anaesthesia: Loss of feeling or awareness. A general anaesthetic puts the person to sleep.
A local anaesthetic causes loss of feeling in a part of the body such as a tooth or an area of
skin without affecting consciousness. Regional anaesthesia numbs a larger part of the body
such as a leg or arm, also without affecting consciousness. The term "conduction
anaesthesia" encompasses both local and regional anaesthetic techniques. Many surgical
procedures can be done with conduction anaesthesia without significant pain. In many
situations, such as a C-section, conduction anaesthesia is safer and therefore preferable to
general anaesthesia. However, there are also many types of surgery in which general
anaesthesia is clearly appropriate.
Angioplasty: The use of a balloon to stretch up the narrowing in a blood vessel during an
arteriogram.
Angiotensin: A family of peptides (smaller than proteins) that act as vasoconstrictors to
narrow blood vessels.
Ankle oedema: An abnormal build-up of fluid under the skin around the ankles. It is an early
sign of fluid overload.
Antibiotic: Medication used to kill bacteria and fight infection.
Antibodies: Substances that normally help the body to fight infection. They are made by
white blood cells. After a transplant, antibodies can attack the new kidney and cause
rejection. Antibodies are also causes of kidney disease such as glomerulonephritis. Disorders
of the bone marrow producing abnormal antibodies can cause amyloid and myeloma.
Anticoagulant: Medication that delays or stops the clotting of blood such as Coumadin (or
heparin).
Antigen: A substance, usually a protein, that is recognised by the immune system (the body's
natural defence system). The body is programmed not to react to antigens from its own cells,
but should react vigorously to antigens from bacteria and other invaders. Sometimes the body
will react to 'self-antigen', and this can cause some types of kidney disease. Proteins from
other people may be recognised as antigens, and this leads to transplant rejection.
Antihypertensive: Medication that lowers blood pressure.
Anti-inflammatory: Medications used to reduce inflammation.
Antiseptic: Chemical that stops growth and reproduction of bacteria and viruses, but doesn’t
necessarily destroy them as a disinfectant would.
Anuria: When the body stops making urine.
Aplastic: Means that an organ or tissue did not develop correctly, or is congenitally absent.
ARB (Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker/Inhibitor): A medicine used to treat high blood
pressure. ARBs work by keeping the body from using the hormone angiotensin, which raises
blood pressure. Often, ARBs are used to help slow kidney damage. See our page about
high blood pressure for more information.
Arterial Line: A tube that carries blood away from the body into the dialyser.
Arteriogram: A type of X-ray that uses a special dye to show the blood vessels. The dye is
put into the blood vessels via a tube that is inserted into the groin and passed up to the
kidneys.
Arteriosclerosis: Hardening of the arteries.
Artery: A vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the farthest
reaches of the body. Since blood in arteries is usually full of oxygen, the haemoglobin in the
red blood cells is oxygenated. The resultant form of haemoglobin (oxyhaemoglobin) is what
makes arterial blood look bright red.
Artificial Kidney: A filtering device used with an artificial kidney machine to remove excess
fluid and waste products from the body. Also known as “dialyser” and “hemodialyser.”
Artificial Kidney Machine: A machine that supports and monitors the functioning of the
artificial kidney (dialyser). Also called “haemodialysis machine.”
Aspirin: A good example of a tradename that entered into the language, Aspirin was once
the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid.
ATG: Abbreviation for anti-thymocyte globulin, a strong treatment against the rejection of a
transplant kidney.
Atheroma: See atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis: A process of progressive thickening and hardening of the walls of mediumsized and large arteries as a result of fat deposits on their inner lining.
ATN (Acute Tubular Necrosis): A severe type of acute renal failure. It develops in people
with severe infections or blood pressure that is too low. Patients may need dialysis until
kidney function improves. Kidney function often improves if the cause of the disease is
successfully treated.
Autoimmune Disease: Any disorder in which part of the body is attacked by its own immune
system. Examples include Goodpasture’s syndrome and lupus nephritis.
AV (Arteriovenous) Fistula: Surgical connection of an artery and a vein, usually in the
forearm. This is created in patients who will need haemodialysis, so that the vein will grow
thicker to allow for repeated needle sticks. In most haemodialysis patients, this is the best
option.
Azathioprine: An immuno-suppressant drug used to prevent the rejection of a transplant
kidney.
B
Bacteria: Single cell organisms, capable of rapid reproduction. They are present everywhere;
some are harmless; others are known to produce infectious diseases.
Bath: See “dialysate.”
Berger’s Disease: See IgA Nephropathy.
Beta-blockers Tablets that slow down the heart rate and lower blood pressure. Examples are
atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol.
Bicarbonate: In medicine, bicarbonate usually refers to bicarbonate of soda (sodium
bicarbonate, baking soda) white powder that is common ingredient in antacids. Also, the
bicarbonate level is an indirect measure of the acidity of the blood that is determined when
electrolytes are tested. The normal serum range for bicarbonate is 22-30 mmol/L.
Biochemistry blood test: A test that measures the blood levels of various different
substances. Substances measured in people with kidney failure usually include sodium,
potassium, glucose, urea, creatinine, bicarbonate, calcium, phosphate and albumin.
Biopsy: The removal of a sample of tissue for purposes of diagnosis. (Many definitions of
"biopsy" stipulate that the sample of tissue is removed for examination under a microscope.
This may or may not be the case. The diagnosis may be achieved by other means such as by
analysis of chromosomes or genes.)
Bladder: Any pouch or other flexible enclosure that can hold liquids or gases but usually
refers to the hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine -- the urinary bladder. The
kidneys filter waste from the blood and produce urine, which enters the bladder through two
tubes called ureters. Urine leaves the bladder through another tube, the urethra. In women,
the urethra is a short tube that opens just in front of the vagina. In men, it is longer, passing
through the prostate gland and then the penis. Infection of the bladder is called cystitis.
Blood cells: The microscopically tiny units that form the solid part of the blood. There are
three main types: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.
Blood Chemistries: Measurement of certain chemicals in the blood.
Blood Flow Rate: In dialysis, the rate at which the patient’s blood is pumped through the
artificial kidney.
Blood glucose: The main sugar that the body makes from the food in the diet. Glucose is
carried through the bloodstream to provide energy to all cells in the body. Cells cannot use
glucose without the help of insulin.
Blood group: An inherited characteristic of red blood cells. The common classification is
based on whether or not a person has certain antigens (called A and B) on their cells. People
belong to one of four blood groups, called A, B, AB and O.
Blood level: A measurement of the amount of a particular substance in the blood, sometimes
expressed in mmol/l (millimoles per litre) or µmol/l (micromoles per litre) of blood.
Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is
produced primarily by the contraction of the heart muscle. Its measurement is recorded by
two numbers. The first (systolic pressure) is measured after the heart contracts and is
highest. The second (diastolic pressure) is measured before the heart contracts and lowest. A
blood pressure cuff is used to measure the pressure. Elevation of blood pressure is called
"hypertension".
Blood Pump: A pump that moves blood from the patient’s access through the blood tubing
and artificial kidney and back to the patient without damage to the blood cells.
Blood urea nitrogen: Abbreviated BUN. A measure primarily of the urea level in blood. Urea
is cleared by the kidney. Diseases that compromise the function of the kidney frequently lead
to an increased BUN.
Blood vessels: The tubes that carry blood around the body. The main blood vessels are the
arteries and veins.
Bone marrow: The soft blood-forming tissue that fills the cavities of bones and contains fat
and immature and mature blood cells, including white blood cells, red blood cells, and
platelets. Diseases or drugs that affect the bone marrow can affect the total counts of these
cells.
BP: Abbreviation for blood pressure.
Brain death: A term indicating that the entire brain has permanently stopped working, and
that further life is possible only on a life-support machine. A person must be diagnosed brain
dead before their organs can be removed for a cadaveric transplant.
Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through the
mouth or nose due to muscle contraction, and then exhaled due to muscle relaxation.
Bright's disease: A name for glomerulonephritis. This term was used in the past before the
different types of glomerulonephritis were given their own names.
Bruit: Sound produced by the blood flowing though a graft, fistula, or shunt.
BUN: Combination of waste products (nitrogen and urea) in the blood normally excreted by
the kidneys.
C
Cadaver Donor: Someone who has died and whose kidneys have been donated for
transplantation.
Cadaveric transplant: A transplant kidney removed from someone who has died.
Calcimimetic:. A type of drug which is recognised by the body as if it is calcium (i.e. 'mimics'
the effect of calcium). May be used to help lower the blood level of calcium in people with
kidney failure and problems with calcium levels in the blood.
Calcitriol: The active form of vitamin D. Calcitriol is formed in the kidneys or made in the
laboratory. It is used as a drug to increase calcium levels in the body in order to treat skeletal
and tissue-related calcium deficiencies caused by kidney or thyroid disorders.
Calcium: A mineral found mainly in the hard part of bones, where it is stored. Calcium is
added to bones by cells called osteoblasts and is removed from bones by cells called
osteoclasts. Calcium is essential for healthy bones. It is also important for muscle contraction,
heart action, nervous system maintenance, and normal blood clotting. Food sources of
calcium include dairy foods, some leafy green vegetables such as broccoli and collards,
canned salmon, clams, oysters, calcium-fortified foods, and tofu. According to the National
Academy of Sciences, adequate intake of calcium is 1,200 milligrams a day (four glasses of
milk) for men and women 51 and older, 1,000 milligrams a day for adults 19 through 50, and
1,300 milligrams a day for children 9 through 18. The upper limit for calcium intake is 2.5
grams daily.
Calcium Stone: The most common type of kidney stone. See also calcium, oxalate and
kidney stone. See our page about kidney stones for more information.
Calories: A calorie is a unit of heat content or energy.
Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in
some cases, to metastasize (spread).
Candida albicans: A fungus that sometimes causes peritonitis in patients on peritoneal
dialysis.
Capillaries: Capillaries are the smallest of blood vessels. They serve to distribute oxygenated
blood from arteries to the tissues of the body and to feed deoxygenated blood from the
tissues back into the veins. The capillaries are thus a central component in the circulatory
system, essentially between the arteries and the veins. When pink areas of skin are
compressed, this causes blanching because blood is pressed out of the capillaries. The blood
is the fluid in the body that contains, among other elements, the red blood cells (erythrocytes)
that carry the oxygen and give the blood its red colour.
Capillary: One of the tiny blood vessels that connect the arterioles (the smallest divisions of
the arteries) and the venules (the smallest divisions of the veins). The capillaries form a fine
network in many parts of the body.
Capsule: Capsule has many meanings in medicine including the following:
1. In medicine, a membranous structure that envelops an organ, a joint, tumour, or any
other part of the body. It is usually made up of dense collagen-containing connective
tissue.
2. In pharmacy, a solid dosage form in which the drug is enclosed in a hard or soft
soluble container, usually of a form of gelatin.
3. In microbiology, a coat around a microbe, such as a bacterium or fungus.
Carbohydrates: Category of food that is easily used by the body for energy.
Cardiac: Anything to do with the heart.
Cardiologist: A medical doctor who specialises in diagnosing and treating conditions of the
heart.
Catheter: A thin, flexible tube. For example, a catheter placed in a vein provides a pathway
for giving drugs, nutrients, fluids, or blood products. Samples of blood can also be withdrawn
through the catheter.
Cell: The basic structural and functional unit in people and all living things. Each cell is a
small
container
of
chemicals
and
water
wrapped
in
a
membrane.
Central venous catheter: See: Catheter, central venous.
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to treat cancer. The chemotherapy drugs
attack and kill the fast-growing cancer cells.
Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains
the lungs, the heart and part of the aorta. The walls of the chest are supported by the dorsal
vertebrae, the ribs, and the sternum.
Chest pain: There are many causes of chest pain. One is angina which results from
inadequate oxygen supply to the heart muscle. Angina can be caused by coronary artery
disease or spasm of the coronary arteries. Chest pain can also be due to a heart attack
(coronary occlusion) and other important diseases such as, for example, dissection of the
aorta and a pulmonary embolism. Do not try to ignore chest pain and "work (or play) though
it." Chest pain is a warning to seek medical attention.
Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body, cholesterol has been given a bad
name
However,
cholesterol
is
a
critically
important
molecule.
Chronic: This important term in medicine comes from the Greek chronos, time and means
lasting a long time.
Chronic kidney failure: See: Chronic renal failure.
Chronic renal failure: Slow progressive loss of kidney function over the span of years,
resulting in permanent kidney failure. Chronic kidney disease is common and may go
undiagnosed until the process is far advanced and renal failure is on the horizon. People with
permanent kidney failure need dialysis or a transplanted kidney to do the work of their failed
kidneys.
Circulation: The movement of fluid in a regular or circuitous course. Although the noun
"circulation" does not necessarily refer to the circulation of the blood, for all practical purposes
today it does. Heart failure is an example of a problem with the circulation.
Clearance: Rate that waste products in the blood are removed through dialysis expressed in
milliliters/minute.
CMV: Abbreviation for cytomegalovirus.
Coagulation: The process of forming a blood clot.
Collar bone: A flat, slender bone joining the breast bone to the shoulder blade.
Complication: In medicine, an additional problem that arises following a procedure,
treatment or illness and is secondary to it. A complication complicates the situation.
Concentration: Strength of a solution.
Congenital: Means "existing at birth."
Congestive Heart Failure: A condition in which the body is fluid overloaded, causing the
heart to pump less effectively. Congestive heart failure may result in excess fluid in the lungs.
Conservative management: Treatment of end stage kidney disease without the use of
dialysis.
Contaminate: Allowing microorganisms to contact a sterile area, making it unsterile and
creating potential for infection.
Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD): A form of dialysis in which dialysate
drains into and out of the peritoneal cavity by gravity several times a day.
Continuous Cycling Peritoneal Dialysis (CCPD): A form of dialysis that uses a cycling
machine to infuse and drain dialysate from the peritoneal cavity several times during the night
while the patient sleeps. This is also known as APD Automated Peritoneal Dialsyis
Convulsion: Involuntary muscle contractions and relaxation.
Creatinine: A chemical waste molecule that is generated from muscle metabolism. Creatinine
is produced from creatine, a molecule of major importance for energy production in muscles.
Approximately 2% of the body's creatine is converted to creatinine every day. Creatinine is
transported through the bloodstream to the kidneys. The kidneys filter out most of the
creatinine and dispose of it in the urine.
Creatinine Clearance: A test that measures how well the kidneys remove creatinine and
other wastes from the blood. Low creatinine clearance may mean kidney damage.
Cross-matching: Testing of blood and tissues to check compatibility of donor kidney and
patient for kidney transplantation.
CT (Computerized Tomography) Scan: A kind of moving X-ray that creates pictures of the
kidneys. Also called CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) Scan.
Culture: A sample of organisms taken from a site to identify the specific organism causing
infection.
Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. Cures are easy to claim and, all too
often, difficult to confirm.
2. A time without recurrence of a disease so that the risk of recurrence is small, as in the 5year cure rate for malignant melanoma.
3. Particularly in the past, a course of treatment. For example, take a cure at a spa.
Cycler: A machine that performs peritoneal dialysis solution exchanges in regular cycles.
Cyclosporin An immuno-suppressant drug used to prevent the rejection of a transplant
kidney. Also known as Ciclosporin
Cystine: An amino acid found in blood and urine. Amino acids are building blocks of
protein. See also cystine stone and cystinuria.
Cystine Stone: A rare type of kidney stone made of the amino acid cystine. See our page
about kidney stones for more information.
Cystinuria: A condition where urine contains high levels of the amino acid cystine. If cystine
does not dissolve in the urine, it can build up and form kidney stones.
Cystitis: Inflammation (irritation) of the bladder, causing pain and a burning feeling in the
pelvis or urethra.
Cystoscope: A tool for looking at the bladder in a procedure called cystoscopy.
Cysts: Cysts are abnormal, closed sac-like structures within a tissue that contain a liquid,
gaseous, or semisolid substance. Cysts can occur anywhere in the body and can vary in size.
The outer, or capsular, portion of a cyst is termed the cyst wall.
D
Deceased donor transplant: A transplant kidney removed from someone who has died.
Dehydration: A condition in which the body does not contain enough water to function
properly. Dehydration often occurs with low blood pressure, which causes weakness and
dizziness.
Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mellitus
and diabetes insipidus share the name "diabetes" because they are both conditions
characterized by excessive urination (polyuria).
Diabetes Insipidus: A condition where a person has frequent and heavy
urination, excessive thirst, and an overall feeling of weakness. This condition may be caused
by a problem in the pituitary gland or kidney. In diabetes insipidus, blood sugar levels are
normal. See also nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.
Diabetes mellitus: Better known just as "diabetes" -- a chronic disease associated with
abnormally high levels of the sugar glucose in the blood. Diabetes is due to one of two
mechanisms:
(1) Inadequate production of insulin (which is made by the pancreas and lowers blood
glucose) or
(2)
Inadequate
sensitivity
of
cells
to
the
action
of
insulin.
The two main types of diabetes correspond to these two mechanisms and are called insulin
dependent (type 1) and non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes. In type 1 diabetes there is
no insulin or not enough of it. In type 2 diabetes, there is generally enough insulin but the cells
upon it should act are not normally sensitive to its action.
Diabetic Nephropathy: The kidney disease associated with long-standing diabetes. Diabetic
nephropathy is also called Kimmelstiel-Wilson disease (or Kimmelstiel-Wilson syndrome) or
intercapillary glomerulonephritis.
Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A conclusion or
decision reached by diagnosis. The diagnosis is rabies. 3 The identification of any problem.
The diagnosis was a plugged IV.
Dialysate: A liquid used to clean waste from the blood in the two major kinds of dialysis.
Dialysate flow rate: Rate at which dialysate flows through the dialyser.
Dialyser: A part of the haemodialysis machine. The dialyser has two sections that are
separated by a membrane. One section holds dialysate, and the other section holds the
patient’s blood.
Dialysis: The process of cleansing the blood by passing it through a special machine.
Dialysis is necessary when the kidneys are not able to filter the blood. Dialysis allows patients
with kidney failure a chance to live productive lives. There are two types of dialysis:
haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis. Each type of dialysis has advantages and
disadvantages. Patients can often choose the type of long term dialysis that best matches
their needs.
Dialysis Centre: The Dialysis centre is a place where a team of healthcare professionals
help someone with kidney disease.
Dialysis machine: A machine that filters a patient's blood to remove excess water and waste
products when the kidneys are damaged, dysfunctional, or missing. Blood is drawn through a
specially created vein in the forearm, which is called an arterio-venous (AV) fistula. From the
AV fistula, blood is taken to the dialysis machine through plastic tubing. The dialysis machine
itself can be thought of as an artificial kidney. Inside, it consists of more plastic tubing that
carries the removed blood to the dialyser, a bundle of hollow fibres that forms a semipermeable membrane for filtering out impurities. In the dialyser, blood is diffused with a saline
solution called dialysate, and the dialysate is in turn diffused with blood. Once the filtration
process is complete, the cleansed blood is returned to the patient. Most patients using
dialysis due to kidney impairment or failure use a dialysis machine at a special dialysis clinic.
Most sessions take about four hours, and typically patients visit the clinic one to three times
per week.
Dialysis membrane: A thin layer of tissue or plastic with many tiny holes in it, through which
the process of dialysis takes place. In peritoneal dialysis, the patient’s peritoneum provides
the dialysis membrane. For haemodialysis, the dialysis membrane is made of plastic. In each
case, the membrane keeps the dialysis fluid separate from the blood (essential because
dialysis fluid is toxic if it flows directly into the blood). However, the tiny holes in the
membrane make it semi-permeable, allowing water and various substances to pass through
it.
Dialysis Specialists: Nurses and other healthcare professionals who manage dialysis
procedures and/or instruct patients how to manage their own dialysis.
Dialysis treatment plan: Regimen based on the individual needs of the renal failure patient
to re-establish physical balance.
Diastolic Pressure: The force that blood puts on arteries and veins when the heart is
relaxed (between heartbeats). This is the bottom number of a blood pressure reading.
Dietitian: Someone trained in nutrition and diet planning.
Diffusion: Passage of particles from an area of high concentration to a solution of low
concentration resulting in an even distribution of particles.
Disinfectant: An agent which will kill most microorganisms (bacteria, viruses) it contacts.
Diuretic: Anything that promotes the formation of urine by the kidney. (The word "diuretic"
comes from a combination of the Greek "dia-", thoroughly + "ourein", to urinate = to urinate
thoroughly).
Dominant Gene: A gene that causes one trait to overpower others. For example, brown hair
comes from a dominant gene. If a person inherits a brown hair gene from one parent and a
blonde hair gene from another parent, his or her hair will be brown because that is the
dominant gene.
Donor: The giver of a tissue or organ, for example, blood or a kidney.
Doppler scan: A type of ultrasound scan (sound-wave picture) that provides information
about blood flow through the arteries.
Dry weight: The weight of a dialysis patient when excess fluid has been removed. Also
known as “ideal weight”.
Dwell Time: In peritoneal dialysis, the amount of time that dialysate stays in the patient’s
abdominal cavity during each exchange.
Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal function.
Dysplasia: Abnormal in form. From the Greek dys- (bad, disordered, abnormal) and plassein
(to form). For example, retinal dysplasia is abnormal formation of the retina during embryonic
development.
Dysplastic: Means "having abnormal tissue development."
E
ECG: Abbreviation for electrocardiogram. A test that shows the electrical activity within the
heart.
ECHO: Abbreviation for echocardiogram. A type of ultrasound scan (sound-wave picture )that
shows how well the heart is working.
Electrolyte: An electrolyte is a substance that will dissociate into ions in solution and acquire
the capacity to conduct electricity. The electrolytes include sodium, potassium, chloride,
calcium and phosphate. Informally, called lytes. (The clue to the word electrolyte is in the lyte
which comes from the Greek lytos meaning that may be dissolved.)
Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of
medical and surgical care to patients arriving at the hospital in need of immediate care.
Emergency department personnel may also respond to certain situations within the hospital
such cardiac arrests.
Encephalopathy: Disease, damage, or malfunction of the brain. In general, encephalopathy
is manifested by an altered mental state that is sometimes accompanied by physical changes.
Although numerous causes of encephalopathy are known, the majority of cases arise from
infection, liver damage, anoxia, or kidney failure. The term encephalopathy is very broad and,
in most cases, is preceded by various terms that describe the reason, cause, or special
conditions of the patient that leads to brain malfunction. For example, anoxic encephalopathy
means brain damage due to lack of oxygen, and hepatic encephalopathy means brain
malfunction due to liver disease. Depending upon the cause and severity of the condition,
symptoms may range from mild alterations in mental status to severe and potentially fatal
manifestations such as dementia, seizures, and coma.
Endocrinologist: A medical doctor who specializes in treating disorders of the endocrine
glands, including the pancreas.
Enzyme: A protein (or protein-based molecule) that speeds up a chemical reaction in a living
organism. An enzyme acts as catalyst for specific chemical reactions, converting a specific
set of reactants (called substrates) into specific products. Without enzymes, life as we know it
would not exist.
ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease): Total chronic kidney failure. When the kidneys fail, the
body retains fluids and harmful wastes. A person with ESRD needs dialysis or a kidney
transplant to take over the work of the failed kidneys. See our page about end stage
renal disease for more information. Also known as ERF (Established Renal Failure)
EPO: See erythropoietin
Erectile dysfunction: A common men's health problem characterized by the consistent
inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse or the inability to achieve
ejaculation, or both. Impotence can vary. It can involve a total inability to achieve an erection
or ejaculation, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only very brief
erections. Erectile dysfunction is also called impotence.
Erythropoietin (EPO): A hormone made by the kidneys that stimulates cells in the bone
marrow to produce new red blood cells. Synthetic versions are available. Lack of the hormone
may lead to anaemia.
ESRD (End Stage Renal Disease): Total chronic kidney failure. When the kidneys fail, the
body retains fluids and harmful wastes. A person with ESRD needs dialysis or a kidney
transplant to take over the work of the failed kidneys. See our page about end stage
renal disease for more information. See ERF above.
Essential:
1.
Something
that
cannot
be
done
without.
2. Required in the diet, because the body cannot make it. As in an essential amino acid or an
essential fatty acid.
3. Idiopathic. As in essential hypertension. "Essential" is a hallowed term meaning "We don't
know the cause."
eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate): A measure of how well the kidneys are
working. An eGFR is based on a person's creatinine level, age, sex and race. See our eGFR
page for more information.
ESWL (Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy): A non-surgical procedure that uses
shockwaves to break kidney stones into smaller pieces. See our page about kidney stones
for more information.
Exchange: A cycle in peritoneal dialysis when dialysate fills the abdominal cavity, stays
there for a certain dwell time and empties to prepare for another cycle.
Exchange transplant: Sometimes a person cannot receive a living donor kidney transplant
because of blood group incompatibility or other antibody incompatibility, even though they
have a family member willing to donate a kidney. It may be possible to find another potential
donor and recipient who are incompatible with each other, but where the kidneys can be
'exchanged', each recipient having transplant from the other person's donor.
Exit site: The area where the needles enter or exit through the access. Also, where a
peritoneal dialysis catheter or subclavian catheter exits the skin.
F
Family history: The family structure and relationships within the family, including information
about diseases in family members.
Fatigue: A condition characterised by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency of
accomplishment, usually accompanied by a feeling of weariness and tiredness. Fatigue can
be acute and come on suddenly or chronic and persist.
Fatty acids: Molecules that are long chains of lipid-carboxylic acid found in fats and oils and
in cell membranes as a component of phospholipids and glycolipids. (Carboxylic acid is an
organic acid containing the functional group -COOH.)
Fiber: The parts of plants that cannot be digested, namely complex carbohydrates. Also
known as bulk or roughage.
Fistula: An abnormal passageway in the body. The fistula may go from the body surface into
a blindpouch or into an internal organ or go between two internal organs. Also the connection
of an artery to a vein for dialysis
FK506: Another name for Tacrolimus.
Fluid overload: Point at which extra fluid in the body causes oedema, difficulty in breathing
or extra strain on the heart.
G
Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively to the stomach and small and large
intestines.
GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate): See eGFR (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate).
Glomerular: Pertaining to the glomerulus, a tiny structure in the kidney that filters the blood to
form urine.
Glomeruli: The plural of glomerulus.
Glomerulonephritis: Inflammation of the kidney’s filters (glomeruli).
Glomerulus: 1.In the kidney, a tiny ball-shaped structure composed of capillary blood vessels
actively involved in the filtration of the blood to form urine. The glomerulus is one of the key
structures that make up the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney.
2. In the olfactory bulb, an anatomically discrete module receiving input from an olfactory
sensory neuron.
Glucose: The simple sugar (monosaccharide) that serves as the chief source of energy in the
body. Glucose is the principal sugar the body makes. The body makes glucose from proteins,
fats and, in largest part, carbohydrates. Glucose is carried to each cell through the
bloodstream. Cells, however, cannot use glucose without the help of insulin. Glucose is also
known as dextrose.
Goodpasture’s Syndrome: An uncommon autoimmune disease that usually results in
bleeding from the lungs and coughing up blood. It can also cause inflammation (irritation) of
the kidneys, which may lead to kidney failure.
Graft: Healthy skin, bone, or other tissue taken from one part of the body to replace diseased
or injured tissue removed from another part of the body.
Groin: In anatomy, the area where the upper thigh meets the trunk. More precisely, the fold
or depression marking the juncture of the lower abdomen and the inner part of the thigh.
Growth hormone: Growth hormone is made in the body and helps children grow. Its activity
can be less than normal in someone with kidney disease. It can also be given as a injection to
help children grow.
H
Haemodialysis: A way to clean wastes and extra fluid from the blood using a machine. This
helps to replace the work of the kidneys after they have failed. Haemodialysis is the most
common kind of dialysis.
Haemodialysis catheter: A plastic tube used to gain access to the bloodstream for
haemodialysis.
Haemodialysis unit: The part of a hospital where patients go for haemodialysis.
Haemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells.
Haemoglobin forms an unstable, reversible bond with oxygen. In its oxygenated state it is
called oxyhaemoglobin and is bright red. In the reduced state it is called deoxyhaemoglobin
and is purple-blue.
Haematuria: Blood in the urine, which can be a sign of a kidney stone, glomerulonephritis or
other kidney problem. See our page about blood in your urine for more information.
Hb: Abbreviation for haemoglobin.
HDL: Abbreviation for high density lipoprotein. One of the types of cholesterol in the blood,
representing cholesterol being returned to the liver for recycling. A high HDL level may
therefore be beneficial, but has to be interpreted in the light of the LDL level.
Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. It
is positioned in the chest behind the sternum (breastbone; in front of the trachea,
oesophagus, and aorta; and above the diaphragm muscle that separates the chest and
abdominal cavities. The normal heart is about the size of a closed fist, and weighs about 10.5
ounces. It is cone-shaped, with the point of the cone pointing down to the left. Two-thirds of
the heart lies in the left side of the chest with the balance in the right chest.
Heart-beating donor: A term used to describe a donor whose heart is still beating after brain
death has occurred. Most, but not all, cadaveric transplants come from heart-beating donors.
Heart disease: Any disorder that affects the heart. Sometimes the term "heart disease" is
used narrowly and incorrectly as a synonym for coronary artery disease. Heart disease is
synonymous with cardiac disease but not with cardiovascular disease which is any disease of
the heart or blood vessels. Among the many types of heart disease, see, for example: Angina;
Arrhythmia; Congenital heart disease; Coronary artery disease (CAD); Dilated
cardiomyopathy; Heart attack (myocardial infarction); Heart failure; Hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy; Mitral regurgitation; Mitral valve prolapse; and Pulmonary stenosis.
Hematocrit: A measure that tells how many red blood cells are present in a blood sample.
Low hematocrit suggests anaemia or massive blood loss.
The word "herbal" was pronounced with a silent "h" on both sides of the Atlantic until the 19th
century but this usage persists only on the American side.
Heparin: An anticoagulant given in haemodialysis to slow clotting time so that blood will not
clot in the lines or dialyser.
Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver caused by virus, bacteria, toxic agents or medication.
Hepatitis B surface antigen: Substance that indicates infection with hepatitis B. Testing for
this antigen is performed frequently on clinic staff and patients.
Herbal:
1.
An
adjective,
referring
to
herbs,
as
in
an
herbal
tea.
2. A noun, usually reflecting the botanical or medicinal aspects of herbs; also a book which
catalogs and illustrates herbs.
Heroin: Semi-synthetic drug derived from morphine. Discovered in 1874, it was introduced
commercially in 1898 by the Bayer company in Germany. The name heroin was coined from
the German heroisch meaning heroic, strong. Heroin is stronger (more potent) than morphine.
High blood pressure: Also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is, by definition, a
repeatedly elevated blood pressure exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg -- a systolic pressure
above 140 with a diastolic pressure above 90.
HIV: Acronym for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus, the cause of AIDS (acquired
immunodeficiency syndrome). HIV has also been called the human lymphotropic virus type III,
the lymphadenopathy-associated virus and the lymphadenopathy virus. No matter what name
is applied, it is a retrovirus. (A retrovirus has an RNA genome and a reverse transcriptase
enzyme. Using the reverse transcriptase, the virus uses its RNA as a template for making
complementary DNA which can integrate into the DNA of the host organism).
Home haemodialysis: Treatment on a dialysis machine installed in a patient’s own home.
For home haemodialysis to be considered, the patient must have a partner or friend who is
able to supervise every dialysis session.
Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activity
of certain cells or organs.
HTA: Abbreviation for Human Tissue Authority. The Government organisation that oversees
transplantation, and appoints and trains the assessors that donor and recipient must see
before living donor transplants. www.hta.gov.uk
HUS (Haemolytic Uremic Syndrome): A disease that destroys red blood cells and the lining
of blood vessels. HUS is often caused by a bacteria called Escherichia coli (E. coli) in
contaminated food. People with HUS may get acute renal failure or lose the ability for blood
to clot.
Hydronephrosis: Swelling of the top of the ureter. It is usually because something is
blocking the urine from flowing into the bladder.
Hypercalciuria: Too much calcium in the urine.
Hyperkalemia: Elevated blood potassium.
Hyperoxaluria: Too much of a chemical called oxalate in the urine. This can lead to kidney
stones.
Hyperparathyroidism: A disorder in which the parathyroid glands make too much
parathyroid hormone.
Hypertension: High blood pressure, defined as a repeatedly elevated blood pressure
exceeding 140 over 90 mmHg -- a systolic pressure above 140 with a diastolic pressure
above 90.
Hypotension: Low blood pressure.
I
Ibuprofen: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) commonly used to treat pain,
swelling, and fever. Common brand names for Ibuprofen include Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin.
IgA Nephropathy: A kidney disorder caused by deposits of the protein immunoglobulin A
(IgA) inside the glomeruli. IgA protein damages the glomeruli, which may lead to blood and
protein in the urine, swelling in the hands and feet or kidney failure. Also called Berger’s
Disease.
Immune: Protected against infection. The Latin immunis means free, exempt.
Immune system: A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing us from everything
foreign to us, and for protecting us against infections and foreign substances. The immune
system works to seek and kill invaders.
Immunosuppressant: An agent that can suppress or prevent the immune response.
Immunosuppressants are used to prevent rejection of a transplanted organ and to treat
autoimmune diseases such as psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and Crohn's disease. Some
treatments for cancer act as immunosuppressants. Also called an immunodepressant.
Implantation: The act of setting in firmly.
Incidence: The frequency with which something, such as a disease, appears in a particular
population or area. In disease epidemiology, the incidence is the number of newly diagnosed
cases during a specific time period. The incidence is distinct from the prevalence which refers
to the number of cases alive on a certain date.
Infection: The growth of a parasitic organism within the body. (A parasitic organism is one
that lives on or in another organism and draws its nourishment there from.) A person with an
infection has another organism (a "germ") growing within him, drawing its nourishment from
the person.
Inflammation: A basic way in which the body reacts to infection, irritation or other injury, the
key feature being redness, warmth, swelling and pain. Inflammation is now recognized as a
type of nonspecific immune response.
Injury: Harm or hurt. The term "injury" may be applied in medicine to damage inflicted upon
oneself as in a hamstring injury or by an external agent on as in a cold injury. The injury may
be accidental or deliberate, as with a needlestick injury. The term "injury" may be
synonymous (depending on the context) with a wound or with trauma.
Internal Insulin: A hormone that turns the sugars we eat into energy. Diabetes mellitus
happens when insulin does not work right.
Interstitial Nephritis: Inflammation (irritation) of the cells that are between the filtering units
in the kidneys. This can lead to either acute renal failure or end stage renal disease (ESRD).
Intravenous: Within a vein.
Intravenous Pyelogram (IVP): A special X-ray of the kidneys. A dye that shows up on X-rays
is used to show the drainage system of the kidneys. The dye is injected into the patient’s arm,
travels in the blood to the kidneys, and is passed from the body in the urine.
Iron: An essential mineral. Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen (via haemoglobin in
red blood cells) and for oxidation by cells (via cytochrome). Deficiency of iron is a common
cause of anaemia. Food sources of iron include meat, poultry, eggs, vegetables and cereals
(especially those fortified with iron). According to the National Academy of Sciences, the
Recommended Dietary Allowances of iron are 15 milligrams per day for women and 10
milligrams per day for men. Iron overload can damage the heart, liver, gonads and other
organs. Iron overload is a particular risk in people who may have certain genetic conditions
(haemochromatosis) sometimes without knowing it and also in people receiving recurrent
blood transfusions. Iron supplements meant for adults (such as pregnant women) are a major
cause of poisoning in children.
Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on the
skin or in the skin, and makes the person want to scratch the affected area.
J
Joint: A joint is the area where two bones are attached for the purpose of motion of body
parts. A joint is usually formed of fibrous connective tissue and cartilage. An articulation or an
arthrosis is the same as a joint.
K
Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen which clear
"poisons" from the blood, regulate acid concentration and maintain water balance in the body
by excreting urine. The kidneys are part of the urinary tract. The urine then passes through
connecting tubes called "ureters" into the bladder. The bladder stores the urine until it is
released during urination.
Kidney biopsy: Removal of a small piece of kidney through a hollow needle for examination
under a microscope. It is needed to diagnose some causes of kidney failure, including
nephritis.
Kidney Cancer: Abnormal cells that grow out of control in one or both kidneys. Over time,
these cancer cells crowd out the healthy cells and damage the kidneys. This causes the
kidneys to fail and may spread to other parts of the body.
Kidney donor: A person who gives a kidney for transplantation.
Kidney failure: A condition in which the kidneys are less able than normal to perform their
functions of removing toxic wastes, removing excess water, helping to control blood pressure,
helping to control red blood cell manufacture and helping to keep the bones strong and
healthy. Kidney failure can be acute or chronic. Advanced chronic kidney failure is called endstage renal failure (ESRF).
Kidney machine: Another name for a dialysis machine.
Kidney Stone: A small, hard crystal that forms from certain chemicals which build up on the
surfaces of the kidney, renal pelvis or ureters. See our page about kidney stones for more
information.
Kidney transplant: Replacement of a diseased, damaged, or missing kidney with a donor
kidney. Also called a renal transplant.
Kilogram: 1,000 grams, one kilogram equals 2.2 pounds.
Kt/V: A way to measure how well dialysis is working. It looks at how well the dialyser works,
treatment time and total volume of urea in the body. See also Urea Reduction Rate (URR).
L
Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures and preparing chemicals, etc.
Although "laboratory" looks very like the Latin "laboratorium" (a place to labor, a work place),
the word "laboratory" came from the Latin "elaborare" (to work out, as a problem, and with
great pains), as evidenced by the Old English spelling "elaboratory" designating "a place
where learned effort was applied to the solution of scientific problems."
LDL: Abbreviation for low density lipoprotein. One of the types of cholesterol in the blood, the
fraction more likely to lead to fatty deposits in the arteries.
LFTs: Abbreviation for liver function tests.
Light Chain Deposition Disease: A rare disease, not specifically of the kidneys. However,
light chain can cause excess blood proteins to form and eventually clog the kidneys, leading
to kidney failure.
Lightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinct
from dizziness, unsteadiness, and vertigo. See: Dizziness, Unsteadiness, and Vertigo.
Line infection: A term for an infection of a haemodialysis catheter (or line).
Lipid: A kind of substance in the body. This includes fat, cholesterol, triglycerides, steroids,
hormones and other waxy chemicals. Lipids are an important part of the body’s cells. Having
too much of some types of lipids can be dangerous.
Lithotripsy: A way of breaking kidney stones into smaller pieces using shock waves or other
methods. See also electrocorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL).
Litre: The basic unit of volume measurement in metric system, approximately equal to one
quart.
Liver: An organ in the upper abdomen that aids in digestion and removes waste products and
worn-out cells from the blood. The liver is the largest solid organ in the body. The liver weighs
about three and a half pounds (1.6 kilograms). It measures about 8 inches (20 cm)
horizontally (across) and 6.5 inches (17 cm) vertically (down) and is 4.5 inches (12 cm) thick.
Liver disease: Liver disease refers to any disorder of the liver. The liver is a large organ in
the upper right abdomen that aids in digestion and removes waste products from the blood.
See the entire definition of Liver disease
Liver function tests (LFTs): Blood tests that show how well the liver is working. They often
appear at the bottom of the biochemistry test results. Some people with kidney failure also
have liver problems. Mentioned above
Living related transplant (LRT): A transplant kidney donated (given) by a living relative of
the recipient. A well-matched living related transplant is likely to last longer than either a living
unrelated transplant or a cadaveric transplant.
Living unrelated transplant: A kidney transplant from a living person who is biologically
unrelated to the recipient (such as a husband or wife).
LRT: Abbreviation for a living related transplant.
Lungs: The lungs are a pair of breathing organs located with the chest which remove carbon
dioxide from and bring oxygen to the blood. There is a right and left lung.
Lupus: A chronic inflammatory condition caused by an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune
disease occurs when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. Patients
with lupus have unusual antibodies in their blood that are targeted against their own body
tissues.
Lupus Nephritis: Inflammation (irritation) of the kidneys, caused by an autoimmune disease
called systemic lupus erythematosus (eh-rih-theh-mah-TOH-sis) or “SLE”. Lupus nephritis
can cause haematuria and proteinuria or progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD).
Lymphocytes: Specialist white blood cells that form part of the immune system.
M
Magnesia: Named after a town in present day Turkey where an ore containing magnesium
carbonate was mined. Milk of Magnesia, the laxative, is magnesium hydroxide.
Magnesium: A mineral involved in many processes in the body including nerve signalling, the
building of healthy bones, and normal muscle contraction. About 350 enzymes are known to
depend on magnesium.
Malnutrition: Loss of body weight, usually due to not eating enough (especially foods
providing protein and energy). Malnutrition is the major nutritional problem of dialysis patients.
Marker: A substance that is known to occur in the presence of another substance. Both
creatinine and urea are markers for many less easily measurable substances in the blood.
The higher the blood levels of these marker substances, the higher also are the levels of
harmful toxins in the blood.
Marrow: The bone marrow.
MDRD: Abbreviation of the name of the mathematical equation used to calculate eGFR (see
eGFR, above).
Membrane: A very thin layer of tissue that covers a surface.
Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis: A disease occurring primarily in children and
young adults. Over time, inflammation caused by the disease leads to scarring of the
glomeruli. This can cause proteinuria, haematuria or chronic kidney failure.
Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical processes that occur
within us (or any living organism). Metabolism consists of anabolism (the build up of
substances) and catabolism (the breakdown of substances).
Metabolism: Physical and chemical changes occurring within the body in order to produce
energy.
Methylprednisolone: A strong version of prednisolone, a drug used to prevent or treat the
rejection of a transplant kidney.
Microscope: An optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects.
The name microscope was coined by Johannes Faber (1574-1629) who in 1628 borrowed
from the Greek to combined micro-, small with skopein, to view. Although the first
microscopes were simple microscopes, most (if not all) optical microscopes today are
compound microscopes.
Microscopic: So small it cannot be seen without the aid of microscope. As opposed to
macroscopic (large enough to be seen with naked eye). A tiny tumour is microscopic while a
big tumour is macroscopic.
Microscopic polyarteritis: A type of kidney disease where blood vessels in the kidneys and
other parts of the body are affected. See medical information on 'vasculitis'.
Minerals: Inorganic substances necessary to normal body function, but toxic in high
concentrations.
Minimal Change Disease: The most common type of nephrotic syndrome in children.
Doctors usually treat patients with prednisone. Children will often out-grow minimal change
disease. See our page about childhood nephrotic syndrome for more information.
Mmol/l: Abbreviation for millimoles per litre. A unit used to measure the blood levels of many
substances. Creatinine is measured in smaller units called micromoles per litre (µmol/l).
Molecule: The smallest unit that a substance can be divided into without causing a change in
the chemical nature of the substance.
Monitor: (noun) Electronic device used to check, remind, or warn.(verb) Watching patients
during their treatments, or checking the adequacy of treatments over time.
Mouth: 1. The upper opening of the digestive tract, beginning with the lips and containing the
teeth, gums, and tongue. Foodstuffs are broken down mechanically in the mouth by chewing
and saliva is added as a lubricant. Saliva contains amylase, an enzyme that digests starch. 2.
Any opening or aperture in the body. The mouth in both senses of the word is also called the
os, the Latin word for an opening, or mouth. The o in os is pronounced as in hope. The
genitive form of os is oris from which comes the word oral.
MRA scan: Abbreviation of magnetic resonance angiogram. Type of MRI scan which takes
pictures of arteries.
MRI scan: Abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging scan. A scanning technique that
uses magnetism, radio waves and a computer to produce high-quality pictures of the body’s
interior.
Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power.
There are three types of muscle in the body. Muscle which is responsible for moving
extremities and external areas of the body is called "skeletal muscle." Heart muscle is called
"cardiac muscle." Muscle that is in the walls of arteries and bowel is called "smooth muscle."
N
Nausea: Nausea, is the urge to vomit. It can be brought on by many causes including,
systemic illnesses, such as influenza, medications, pain, and inner ear disease. When nausea
and/or vomiting are persistent, or when they are accompanied by other severe symptoms
such as abdominal pain, jaundice, fever, or bleeding, a physician should be consulted.
Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constricted
part of a bone or organ that joins its parts as, for example, the neck of the femur bone.
Nephr- Prefix meaning relating to the kidneys.
Nephrectomy: Surgical removal of a kidney.
Nephritis: Inflammation of the kidney. Nephritis can be acute or chronic.
Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus: Constant thirst and frequent urination because the
kidneys cannot respond correctly to the antidiuretic hormone (ADH). This may cause
increased urination. See also diabetes insipidus.
Nephrolithiasis: Kidney stones.
Nephrologist: A doctor who treats kidney problems and high blood pressure.
Nephrology: The art and science of the care of the kidney.
Nephron: A key unit, both anatomically and functionally, of the kidney.
Nephropathy: Any kidney disease. For example, there is diabetic nephropathy, gouty
nephropathy,
HIV-associated
nephropathy,
ischemic
nephropathy,
sickle
cell
nephropathy,and so on. From the Greek "nephros" (kidney) + "pathos" (disease).
Nephrotic Syndrome: A condition where too much protein is in the urine and too little
protein is in the blood. This causes swelling. There are two types of nephrotic syndrome:
childhood and adult. See our pages about nephrotic syndrome for more information.
Neuropathy: Any and all disease or malfunction of the nerves.
NHS Blood and Transplant The organisation that organises transplant allocation and
oversees the performance of transplant units in the UK. Used to be called UK Transplant, and
before that UKTSSA. www.uktransplant.org
Nitrogen: Element number 7, a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas that is biologically
important. Nitrogen is a constituent of protein and nucleic acids and is present in all living
cells. Nitrogen does not support respiration and is fatal if breathed alone, because of the lack
of oxygen. Nitrogen is soluble in the blood and body fluids and, when released as bubbles of
gas, can have serious or even fatal consequences.
Nocturia: Excessive urinating at night. People with nocturia must get up, often two times or
more, during the night to urinate. Normally, urine is more concentrated at night and is
produced in lower amounts, so that uninterrupted sleep is possible. However, excess urine
production at night can occur due to a number of conditions including diabetes, urinary tract
infection, bladder infection, kidney failure, prostatic hyperplasia, taking certain medications, or
sleep disorders. Treatment of nocturia is dependent upon the underlying cause.
Nocturnal Haemodialysis: Is haemodialysis done at night while you sleep.
Nuclear Scan: A test of the kidneys’ structure, blood flow and function. The doctor injects a
slightly radioactive solution into an arm vein and uses x-rays to watch how it moves through
the kidneys.
Nutrients: Food or fluid that provides the body with needed chemicals.
Nutrition: Nutrition is the study of human food and liquid requirements for normal function.
O
Obesity:
The
state
of
being
well
above
one's
normal
weight.
Obstruction: Blockage of a passageway. See, for example: Airway obstruction; Intestinal
obstruction.
Obstructive Uropathy: A blockage, which may be caused by kidney stones or a birth defect
of the kidney or ureter. The blockage is any condition where urine cannot flow out of the
kidney. The blockage makes it difficult for the kidneys to remove wastes and extra fluids.
Oedema: Swelling caused by too much fluid in the body. In kidney patients, this often occurs
at the ankles, feet, hands and around the eyes.
OKT3: Abbreviation for Orthoclone K T-cell receptor 3 antibody, a strong treatment for the
rejection of a transplant.
Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special
functions. The organs of the human body include the eye, ear, heart, lungs, and liver.
Osmosis: Movement of fluid through a semi permeable membrane to achieve equal
concentration on both sides of the membrane.
Osteodystrophy: A bone disorder that adversely affects bone growth. See also renal
osteodystrophy.
Outpatient: A patient who is not an inpatient (not hospitalised) but instead is cared for
elsewhere -- as in a doctor's office, clinic, or day surgery centre. The term outpatient dates
back at least to 1715. Outpatient care today is also called ambulatory care.
Ovarian: Of or pertaining to the ovary.
Oxalate: A chemical that combines with calcium to create the most common type of kidney
stone (calcium oxalate stone).
Oxygen: A colourless, odourless, tasteless chemical element. Oxygen is essential for life
processes.
P
Paediatric kidney disease: Kidney disease that affects infants and children, and teenagers.
Paediatric Nephrologist: A nephrologist is a medical doctor who specializes in disorders of
the kidneys. A paediatric nephrologist has extensive training in general paediatrics and in
helping children with kidney disease and kidney failure. He or she knows all about dialysis
and transplant, and will supervise your treatment.
Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pain
has both physical and emotional components. The physical part of pain results from nerve
stimulation. Pain may be contained to a discrete area, as in an injury, or it can be more
diffuse, as in disorders like fibromyalgia. Pain is mediated by specific nerve fibres that carry
the pain impulses to the brain where their conscious appreciation may be modified by many
factors.
Paired transplant: Sometimes a person cannot receive a living donor kidney transplant
because of blood group incompatibility or other antibody incompatibility, even though they
have a family member willing to donate a kidney. It may be possible to find another potential
donor and recipient who are incompatible with each other, but where the kidneys can be
'exchanged', each recipient having transplant from the other person's donor.
Palpitation: Irregular beating of the heart.
Parathyroidectomy: Surgical removal of the parathyroid glands. Can be partial or complete.
Parathyroid glands: Small glands located in the neck that produce a hormone which
regulates calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood.
PD Plus: A combination of CCPD and CAPD mostly used by PD patients who need more
dialysis.
Percent of kidney function: Blood and urine tests reveal how well the kidneys are working,
so the physician can determine the percent of kidney function.
Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: Surgical removal of kidney stones through a small incision
in the patient’s back.
Pericarditis: Inflammation of the lining around the heart (the pericardium) causing chest pain
and accumulation of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion).
Peripheral:
Situated
away
from
the
centre,
as
opposed
to
centrally
located.
Peripheral neuropathy: A problem with the functioning of the nerves outside the spinal cord.
Symptoms may include numbness, weakness, burning pain (especially at night), and loss of
reflexes.
Peritoneal: Having to do with the peritoneum.
Peritoneal Cavity: Space surrounding the abdominal organs located under the abdominal
muscles.
Peritoneal dialysis: Technique that uses the patient's own body tissues inside of the belly
(abdominal cavity) to act as a filter. The intestines lie in the abdominal cavity, the space
between the abdominal wall and the spine. A plastic tube called a "dialysis catheter" is placed
through the abdominal wall into the abdominal cavity. A special fluid is then flushed into the
abdominal cavity and washes around the intestines. The intestinal walls act as a filter
between this fluid and the blood stream. By using different types of solutions, waste products
and excess water can be removed from the body through this process.
Peritoneum: The membrane that lines the abdominal cavity and covers most of the
abdominal organs. (From the Greek peri- meaning around + tonos meaning a stretching = a
stretching around).
Peritonitis: Infection of the peritoneal cavity that must be treated by a doctor.
Phosphate Binders: Medications that bind with dietary phosphorus so that it may be
eliminated from the body; helps keep calcium and phosphorus in balance for dialysis patients.
Phosphorus: An essential element in the diet and a major component of bone. Phosphorus
is also found in the blood, muscles, nerves, and teeth. It is a component of adenosine
triphosphate (ATP), the primary energy source in the body.
Plasma: The liquid part of the blood in which the blood cells float.
Platelets: A type of blood cell that helps the blood to clot.
Polyarteritis: A type of kidney disease where blood vessels in the kidneys and other parts of
the body are affected. See medical information on 'vasculitis'
Polycystic kidney disease: One of the genetic disorders characterized by the development
of innumerable cysts in the kidneys. These cysts are filled with fluid, and replace much of the
mass of the kidneys. This reduces kidney function, leading to kidney failure.
Posterior Urethral Valves: A type of obstructive uropathy (urine is blocked from flowing out
of the kidney.)
Potassium: The major positive ion (cation) found inside of cells. The chemical notation for
potassium is K+.
Pound: A measure of weight equal to 16 ounces or, metrically, 453.6 grams. The word
"pound" goes back to the Latin "pondo" which meant a "weight" (but one of only 12 ounces).
The abbreviation for pound-just to confuse non-pound people-is lb. which stands for "libra"
(Latin for pound).
Prednisone: A medicine often used to treat minimal change disease and other kidney
conditions. Prednisone is from a class of medicines called corticosteroids. Talk to your
doctor about the side effects that prednisone may cause. See our pages on childhood and
adult nephrotic syndrome for more information.
Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing foetus within the body.
Prevalence: The proportion of individuals in a population having a disease. Prevalence is a
statistical concept referring to the number of cases of a disease that are present in a
particular population at a given time.
Prognosis: 1. The expected course of a disease.
2. The patient's chance of recovery. The prognosis predicts the outcome of a disease and
therefore the future for the patient. His prognosis is grim, for example, while hers is good.
Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity. Advancing. Going forward. In medicine, a
disease that is progressive is going from bad to worse.
Prostate: A gland within the male reproductive system that is located just below the bladder.
Chestnut shaped, the prostate surrounds the beginning of the urethra, the canal that empties
the bladder.
Protein: A large molecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order
determined by the base sequence of nucleotides in the DNA coding for the protein.
Proteins: Large molecules composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific
order determined by the base sequence of nucleotides in the DNA coding for the protein.
Proteinuria: Abnormally high levels of protein in the urine. This is often a sign that the
kidneys are not working correctly. See also albuminuria.
Pruritus: Itching.
PTH: Abbreviation for parathyroid hormone.
Pulmonary oedema: A serious condition in which fluid builds up in the lungs, causing
breathlessness. People with kidney failure develop pulmonary oedema if fluid overload is not
treated promptly.
Pulse: Throbbing sensation felt in the arteries in time with the heartbeat.
Pyelonephritis: Irritation of the kidneys that is caused by an infection. The infection may
have been started by a germ that travelled through the urethra, bladder and ureters from
outside the body. See also nephritis.
Q
Quality of life: An important consideration in medical care, quality of life refers to the
patient's ability to enjoy normal life activities. Some medical treatments can seriously impair
quality of life without providing appreciable benefit, while others greatly enhance quality of life.
R
Radio-isotope scan: A method of obtaining pictures of the body’s interior, also called a
radio-nuclide scan. A small amount of a mildly radioactive substance is either swallowed or
injected into the bloodstream. The substance gathers in certain parts of the body, which then
show up on pictures taken by a special machine.
Radio-nuclide scan: Another name for a radio-isotope scan.
Receptor: 1. In cell biology, a structure on the surface of a cell (or inside a cell) that
selectively receives and binds a specific substance. There are many receptors. There is a
receptor for (insulin; there is a receptor for low-density lipoproteins (LDL); etc. To take an
example, the receptor for substance P, a molecule that acts as a messenger for the sensation
of pain, is a unique harbour on the cell surface where substance P docks. Without this
receptor, substance P cannot dock and cannot deliver its message of pain. Variant forms of
nuclear hormone receptors mediate processes such as cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid
production. Some hormone receptors are implicated in diseases such as diabetes and certain
types of cancer. A receptor called PXR appears to jump-start the body's response to
unfamiliar
chemicals
and
may
be
involved
in
drug-drug
interactions.
2. In neurology, a terminal of a sensory nerve that receives and responds to stimuli.
Recessive Gene: A gene that can “hide” behind dominant genes. For a recessive gene to
show up, a person must inherit the gene from both parents. People may have or “carry”
recessive genes, but they may not show because they also have the dominant genes.
Recipient: In medicine, a recipient is someone who receives something like a blood
transfusion or an organ transplant. The recipient is beholden to the donor.
Red blood cells: The blood cells that carry oxygen. Red cells contain haemoglobin and it is
the hemoglobin which permits them to transport oxygen (and carbon dioxide). Haemoglobin,
aside from being a transport molecule, is a pigment. It gives the cells their red colour (and
their name).
Red cells: Short for red blood cells, the oxygen/carbon dioxide carrying cells in blood. Also
known acronymically as RBC's, red corpuscles or erythrocytes (literally, red hollow vessels).
Reflux: The term used when liquid backs up into the oesophagus from the stomach.
Reflux nephropathy: A condition in which urine passes back up from the bladder, through
the ureter, to the kidney, where it can cause infections. It occurs because a valve that
normally prevents the backflow of blood from the bladder is faulty. Reflux nephropathy is one
of the causes of kidney failure.
Rejection: The process by which a patient’s immune system recognises a transplant kidney
(or other transplanted organ) as not its ‘own’ and then tries to destroy it and remove it from
the body. Rejection can be acute or chronic.
Renal: Having to do with the kidney. From the Latin renes (the kidneys), which gave the
French les reins which mean both the kidneys and the lower back.
Renal Agenesis: Being born without one or both kidneys.
Renal bone disease: A complication of kidney failure, in which bone health is affected by
abnormally low blood levels of calcium and vitamin D and high levels of phosphate. Without
treatment, renal bone disease can result in bone pain and fractures.
Renal Cell Carcinoma: Cancer of the kidneys. The most successful treatment is surgical
removal of all or part of the kidney (nephrectomy).
Renal Cysts: Abnormal fluid-filled sacs in the kidney. They may be microscopic or quite
large. Most simple cysts do not need treatment. See also cysts and polycystic kidney
disease (PKD).
Renal osteodystrophy: A combination of bone disorders usually caused by chronic kidney
failure (renal disease). Can also occur because of abnormal kidney functioning at birth
(congenital). When the kidneys have failed, death is imminent unless dialysis is given.
Therefore, patients with osteodystrophy are usually on dialysis therapy. This bone disease,
which is also simply called osteodystrophy, is common in patients on chronic haemodialysis.
Renal Pelvis: A small cavity into which urine, formed by the kidneys, is sent before it travels
through the ureters to the bladder. Also called the renal basin.
Renal Tubular Acidosis: A problem in the kidneys that keeps them from removing acids
normally. This can lead to weak bones, kidney stones and poor growth in children.
Renal Tubule: A part of the nephron that leads away from the glomerulus. This is where the
wastes and fluid filtered by the glomerulus become urine.
Renal Vein Thrombosis: Blood clots in the vein that carries blood away from the kidney.
This can be a problem for people with nephrotic syndrome.
Renin: An enzyme made by the kidneys to help control blood pressure and the amount of
fluid in the body. See our page about high blood pressure for more information.
Renovascular disease: Reno means kidney, vascular means blood vessel. Blockage of the
arteries that supply blood to the kidneys.
Residual: Something left behind. With residual disease, the disease has not been eradicated.
Rigors: Cold shivers that sometimes occur with a fever. They can be a symptom of an
infected haemodialysis catheter.
S
Satellite haemodialysis unit: A place where some patients go for haemodialysis away from
the main hospital renal unit. Satellite units have relatively few nurses and are suitable only for
healthy patients, who do some of the haemodialysis preparation themselves. These units tend
to be more easily accessible to patients than most main hospital buildings.
Scan: One of several techniques for obtaining pictures of the body’s interior without using
conventional X-rays. Examples include CT scans, MRI scans, radio-isotope scans and
ultrasound scans.
Semi permeable membrane: Material that allows only fluids and small particles to flow
through.
Serum: The clear liquid that can be separated from clotted blood. Serum differs from plasma,
the liquid portion of normal unclotted blood containing the red and white cells and platelets. It
is the clot that makes the difference between serum and plasma.
Shortness of breath: Difficulty in breathing. Medically referred to as dyspnoea. Shortness of
breath can be caused by respiratory (breathing passages and lungs) or circulatory (heart and
blood vessels) conditions. See also dyspnoea.
Sickle cell disease: A genetic blood disorder caused by the presence of an abnormal form of
haemoglobin. These haemoglobin molecules tend to aggregate after unloading oxygen
forming long, rod-like strictures that force the red cells to assume a sickle shape. Unlike
normal red cells, which are usually smooth and malleable, the sickle red cells cannot squeeze
through small blood vessels. When the sickle cells block small blood vessels, the organs are
deprived of blood and oxygen. This leads to periodic episodes of pain and damages the vital
organs. Sickle red cells die after only about 10 to 20 days. Instead of the usual 120 days or
so. Because they cannot be replaced fast enough, the blood is chronically short of red cells,
causing anaemia. The gene for sickle cell anaemia must be inherited from both parents for
the illness to occur in children. A child with only one copy of the gene may have sickle-cell
traits
Simple Cyst: An abnormal, fluid-filled sac. These may form as the kidneys age, and they
usually do not need treatment.
Sleep: The body's rest cycle.
Social worker: Your social worker can help with understanding how to live with a chronic
illness, insurance matters, learning about support groups, and dealing with challenges at
home, with friends, or in school.
Sodium: The major positive ion (cation) in fluid outside of cells. The chemical notation for
sodium is Na+. When combined with chloride, the resulting substance is table salt.
Sphygmomanometer: The instrument used to measure blood pressure.
Spine: 1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects
the spinal cord. The spine can be categorized according to level of the body: i.e., cervical
spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper and middle back), and lumbar spine (lower back). See
also vertebral column. 2) Any short prominence of bone. The spines of the vertebrae protrude
at the base of the back of the neck and in the middle of the back. These spines protect the
spinal cord from injury from behind.
Stage: As regards cancer, the extent of a cancer, especially whether the disease has spread
from the original site to other parts of the body.
Staphylococcus: One of a group of bacteria responsible for various infections (often called
‘staph’ infections). A common cause of peritonitis in patients on peritoneal dialysis and of line
infections in haemodialysis patients.
Stent: A plastic frame inserted into a blood vessel after angioplasty to help keep the vessel
open, preventing any further narrowing.
Sterile: Totally free from any living microorganisms.
Stroke: A sudden, brain injury caused either by blood flow to part of the brain being
obstructed (blocked) or by bleeding into the brain.
Struvite Stone: A type of kidney stone caused by an infection. See our page on kidney
stones for more information.
Subclavian/subclavian vein: Means "beneath the clavicle." The clavicle is the collarbone, a
bone in the shoulder. The subclavian vein is the large vein behind the collarbone which is
sometimes used for haemodialysis.
Supportive care: Treatment of end stage kidney disease without the use of dialysis.
Surgery: The word "surgery" has multiple meanings. It is the branch of medicine concerned
with diseases and conditions which require or are amenable to operative procedures. Surgery
is the work done by a surgeon. By analogy, the work of an editor wielding his pen as a scalpel
is s form of surgery. A surgery in England (and some other countries) is a physician's or
dentist's office.
Symptomatic: 1 With symptoms, as a symptomatic infection. 2 Characteristic, as behaviour
symptomatic of Huntington disease. 3 Directed at the symptoms, as symptomatic treatment.
Syndrome: A set of signs and symptoms that tend to occur together and which reflect the
presence of a particular disease or an increased chance of developing a particular disease.
Systemic: Affecting the entire body. A systemic disease such as diabetes can affect the
whole body. Systemic chemotherapy employs drugs that travel through the bloodstream and
reach and affect cells all over the body.
Systemic lupus erythematosus: A chronic inflammatory condition caused by an
autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body's tissues are attacked
by its own immune system. Patients with lupus have unusual antibodies in their blood that are
targeted against their own body tissues.
Systolic Pressure: The force that blood puts on arteries and veins when the heart contracts
(beats). This is the top number of a blood pressure reading. See our page about high blood
pressure for more information.
T
Tacrolimus: An immuno-suppressant drug, also known as FK506, which may take over from
ciclosporin as the mainstay of immuno-suppression.
Therapy: The treatment of disease.
Thrill: Pulsation (vibration or buzzing) felt over the graft or fistula.
Tissue: A collection of similar cells that share a similar function, such as skin cells or kidney
cells.
Tissue typing: Matching the blood cells of potential transplant recipients with donors.
Toxin: Waste product in the blood or any substance that is poisonous.
Transplant: The grafting of a tissue from one place to another, just as in botany a bud from
one plant might be grafted onto the stem of another. The transplanting of tissue can be from
one part of the patient to another (autologous transplantation), as in the case of a skin graft
using the patient's own skin; or from one patient to another (allogenic transplantation), as in
the case of transplanting a donor kidney into a recipient.
Transplant operation: The surgical operation by which a patient is given a donated organ.
The operation to insert a transplant kidney takes about two to three hours. The new kidney is
placed lower in the abdomen than the patient’s own kidneys, which are usually left in place.
Blood vessels attached to the transplant kidney are connected to the patient’s blood supply,
and the new kidney’s ureter is connected to the patient’s bladder.
Transplant waiting list: A system that seeks to find the ‘right’ transplant organ for the ‘right’
patient. It is coordinated nationally by UKTSSA, whose computer compares patients’ details
(including blood group and tissue type) with those of cadaveric organs that become available.
The average waiting time for a transplant kidney is about two years.
Triglycerides: A kind of fat in the body. Triglycerides can come from foods and are made in
the liver. The body stores triglycerides to have energy for later.
Tubes: The "tubes" are medically known as the Fallopian tubes. There are two Fallopian
tubes, one on each side, which transport the egg from the ovary to the uterus (the womb).
The Fallopian tubes have small hair-like projections called cilia on the cells of the lining.
Tubule: A small tube.
Tunnel infection: A possible problem for patients on peritoneal dialysis. It occurs when an
infection spreads from the exit site into the ‘tunnel’ (i.e., the route of the PD catheter through
the abdominal wall).
Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.
Type 2 diabetes: See Diabetes, type 2.
U
UKM (urea kinetic modelling): A measurement of dialysis adequacy. Now superseded by
URR (haemodialysis) and KT/V and weekly clearance calculation (CAPD/CCPD/APD)
UKTSSA: Abbreviation for United Kingdom Transplant Support Service Authority, based in
Bristol. This is the national coordinator for cadaveric transplants in the UK. Now called NHS
Blood and Transplant.
Ulcer: An area of tissue erosion, for example, of the skin or lining of the gastrointestinal (GI)
tract. Due to the erosion, an ulcer is concave. It is always depressed below the level of the
surrounding tissue.
ULTRA: Abbreviation for Unrelated Live Transplantation Regulatory Authority. This
government body must give approval to all living unrelated transplants. These assessments
are now carried out by the HTA and ULTRA no longer exists.
Ultrafiltration: Process used to remove excess fluid from the blood during dialysis.
Ultrasound: High-frequency sound waves. Ultrasound waves can be bounced off of tissues
using special devices. The echoes are then converted into a picture called a sonogram.
Ultrasound imaging, referred to as ultrasonography, allows physicians and patients to get an
inside view of soft tissues and body cavities, without using invasive techniques. Ultrasound is
often used to examine a foetus during pregnancy. There is no convincing evidence for any
danger from ultrasound during pregnancy.
Under-dialysis: Not having enough dialysis. If a dialysis patient doesn’t achieve target blood
levels for creatinine, the symptoms of kidney failure are likely to return. The amount of dialysis
will then have to be increased.
Uraemia: Build-up of waste products in the blood due to the inability of the kidneys to excrete
them.
Urea: A nitrogen-containing substance normally cleared from the blood by the kidney into the
urine. Diseases that compromise the function of the kidney often lead to increased blood
levels of urea, as measured by the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test.
Ureters: A long, thin tube that connects the renal pelvis of the kidneys to the bladder. Urine
made by the kidneys travels through the ureters to the bladder.
Urethra: The transport tube leading from the bladder to discharge urine outside the body. In
males, the urethra travels through the penis, and carries semen as well as urine. In females,
the urethra is shorter than in the male and emerges above the vaginal opening, as indicated
here:
Uric Acid Stone: A type of kidney stone often caused by eating too much red meat. See our
page about kidney stones for more information.
Urinalysis: A test that determines the content of the urine. Because urine removes toxins and
excess liquids from the body, it can contain important clues. Urinalysis can be used to detect
some types of disease, particularly in the case of metabolic disorders and kidney disease. It
can
also
be
used
to
uncover
evidence
of
drug
abuse.
Urinary: Having to do with the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. The urinary system represents
the functional and anatomic aspects of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
Urinary catheter: A plastic tube inserted into the bladder for the removal of urine.
Urinary Tract: The organ system of the body that filters waste and extra fluid from the
blood. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra.
Urination: The passing of urine out of the body.
Urine: Liquid waste. The urine is a clear, transparent fluid. It normally has an amber colour.
The average amount of urine excreted in 24 hours is from 40 to 60 ounces (about 1,200 cubic
centimetres). Chemically, the urine is mainly an aqueous (watery) solution of salt (sodium
chloride) and substances called urea and uric acid. Normally, it contains about 960 parts of
water to 40 parts of solid matter. Abnormally, it may contain sugar (in diabetes), albumen (a
protein) (as in some forms of kidney disease), bile pigments (as in jaundice), or abnormal
quantities of one or another of its normal components.
URR (Urea Reduction Ratio): A measure of the amount of urea removed during a dialysis
treatment. The URR is often given as a percent (%).
V
Vancomycin: An antibiotic drug, commonly used to treat peritonitis and line infections.
Vascular: Relating to the blood vessels of the body. The blood vessels of the body, as a
group, are referred to as the vascular system.
Vascular access: A general term to describe the area on the body where blood is drawn for
circulation through a haemodialysis circuit. A vascular access may be an arteriovenous
fistula, a graft, or a catheter.
Vasculitis: Plural: vasculitides. A general term for a group of diseases that feature
inflammation of the blood vessels. Each of these diseases is defined by characteristic
distributions of blood vessel involvement, patterns of organ involvement, and laboratory test
abnormalities. The causes of these vasculitis diseases are usually not known, but immune
system abnormality is a common feature.
Vasodilator drugs: Tablets that lower the blood pressure by making the blood vessels wider,
so that the blood can flow through them more easily.
Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood low in oxygen content from the body back to the heart.
The deoxygenated form of haemoglobin (deoxyhaemoglobin) in venous blood makes it
appear dark. Veins are part of the afferent wing of the circulatory system which returns blood
to the heart.
Venous: Referring to veins and the flow of blood to the heart.
Venous line: Tube that carries blood from the dialyzer back to the body.
Vesicoureteral Reflux: A condition that causes urine to back up into the ureters,
and sometimes the kidneys. This raises the risk of infection and can eventually cause kidney
damage.
Vessel: A tube in the body that carries fluids: blood vessels or lymph vessels.
Virus: A type of germ responsible for a range of mild and serious illnesses. Viruses are much
smaller than bacteria and usually reproduce inside the cells of other living organisms.
Vitamin D: A steroid vitamin which promotes the intestinal absorption and metabolism of
calcium and phosphorus. Under normal conditions of sunlight exposure, no dietary
supplementation is necessary because sunlight promotes adequate vitamin D synthesis in the
skin. Deficiency can lead to bone deformity (rickets) in children and bone weakness
(osteomalacia) in adults.
Vitamins: The word "vitamin" was coined in 1911 by the Warsaw-born biochemist Casimir
Funk (1884-1967). At the Lister Institute in London, Funk isolated a substance that prevented
nerve inflammation (neuritis) in chickens raised on a diet deficient in that substance. He
named the substance "vitamine" because he believed it was necessary to life and it was a
chemical amine. The "e" at the end was later removed when it was recognized that vitamins
need not be amines.
Void: To empty the bladder; urinate.
W
Waste products: Substances formed from the breakdown of protein in foods and from
normal muscle tissue.
Water retention: A nonspecific term meaning the accumulation of excess fluids in body
tissues, medically known as oedema. Oedema can result from many different disease
processes, including but not limited to diseases of the heart and circulation and kidney
disease.
Water tablets: The common name for diuretic drugs.
Wegener’s Granulomatosis: An autoimmune disease that damages blood vessels. This
can cause disease in the lungs, upper respiratory tract and kidneys.
White blood cells: Cells in the blood that normally help to fight infection. They are part of the
immune system. After a kidney transplant, they can be a ‘bad thing’, as they may attack
(reject) the new kidney.
X
Xenotransplantation: The transplanting of tissues or organs from one type of animal into a
human or other type of animal.