ACE inhibitors

Blood pressure medicines particularly effective in diabetic kidney disease

ANCA-/anti- neutrophil cyBack to Toplasmic antibody

ANA/anti-nuclear antibody

One marker in the blood of autoimmune disease.

APD /automated peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis with bag exchanges done automatically by a machine overnight

ARF/AKI

Acute renal failure/Acute kidney injury, impaired kidney function coming on in a short time ie less than 3 months

ARTG

Auckland Renal Transplant Group

Autoimmune disease

Disease that occurs when immune system mistakenly attacks body itself

AVF/AVG / arterio-venous fistula/graft

Artery stitched to a vein usually in the arm through which haemodialysis is performed

BMI

Body mass index, to assess if of a healthy weight or otherwise

BP

Blood pressure

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CAPD/continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis with manual  bag exchanges done by the patient through the day, usually 4 or 5 times

CKD/chronic kidney disease

Disease affecting the kidneys usually resulting in impaired function coming on over a longer time ie more than 3 months

Creatinine

A waste product of metabolism found in the blood the concentration of which is used as a marker of kidney function

Diabetic nephropathy

Kidney disease due to diabetes

Dialysis

Process of removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood

DSE/dobutamine stress echocardiogram

Heart stress test using a dobutamine infusion  and echocardiography to indirectly assess blood supply to the heart- to exclude angina etc.

Echocardiogram

Ultrasound of the heart to assess the valves and pump function

eGFR/estimated glomerular filtration rate

A measure of kidney function

ESRD /end stage renal failure

Total and permanent kidney failure

ETT /exercise tolerance test

Treadmill test to assess exercise capacity and indirectly assess blood supply to the heart.

FSGS/focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Process of scarring of the functional units of the kidney with a variety of causes

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GN/glomerulonephritis

Inflammation in the kidney which can impair function

Haematuria

Blood in the urine

Haemodialysis

Dialysis using a machine whereby blood is  removed from the body via tubes , passing through a dialyser and then returned via another set of tubes typically for 4 hours 3 times a week

Hypertension

High blood pressure

Immunosuppression

Medications targeting the immune system used in a variety of kidney diseases including after a transplant

KT/V

A measure of the dose of dialysis

MRA

Magnetic resonance angiogram, radiological technique to look at blood vessels

MSU

Mid stream urine

Nephrectomy

Removal of a kidney.

Nephrologist

Kidney doctor.

Nephron

Functional unit of the kidney, of which there are 1 million/kidney.

Nephrotic syndrome

Syndrome due to excessive loss of protein in urine resulting in swelling of extremities

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PD/peritoneal dialysis

Process for removal of waste products of metabolism and excess fluid from the blood using fluid  drained into and out of  the abdominal cavity

Peritonitis

Infection/inflammation of the peritoneum- the membrane lining the abdominal cavity.

Proteinuria

Protein in the urine.

Renal

Relating to kidneys.

Renal biopsy

A procedure under ultrasound and local anaesthetic whereby a tiny sample of the kidney is taken using a needle for diagnostic purposes, to work out what is wrong with your kidneys.

Renal DSA / digital subtraction angiogram

Dye test looking at the arteries to the kidneys

Renal osteodystrophy

Bone disease associated with kidney failure

Renoprotection

Preventing/slowing down the progression of chronic kidney disease eg through blood pressure control etc.

Renovascular disease

Narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to kidney resulting in high blood pressure and /or impaired kidney function

Uraemia

Accumulation of waste products normally removed by the kidney which occurs in kidney failure and can cause symptoms including vomiting , poor appetite, itch and tiredness

Vasculitis

Inflammation of blood vessels

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