kidney failure

Question 1

What can cause kidney failure?

Answer 1

• kidney infections - inflammation of the kidneys which can damage the cells. This interferes with filtering in the Bowman’s capsule and reabsorption in the rest of the nephron.
• high bp - damage the glomeruli. blood in glomeruli is already under high pressure but capillaries can get damaged if the pressure gets too high. this might lead to large molecules such as red blood cells and proteins going through the capillary wall and being excreted in the urine.

Question 2

Problems caused by kidney failure are?

Answer 2

• electrolyte balance - the balance of ions in body becomes unbalanced. Blood might be too acidic. Imbalance of calcium and phosphate can lead to brittle bones. Salt build up can cause more water retention (build up of fluid)
• lower glomerular filtration rate - rate at which blood is filtered from glomerulus into Bowman’s capsule.

Question 3

What are possible treatments for kidney failure?

Answer 3

renal dialysis and kidney transplants

Question 4

describe renal dialysis

Answer 4

a machine is used to filter the person’s blood
patients blood passes through dialysis machine so blood flows on one side of partially permeable membrane and dialysis fluid flows on the other. waste, excess water/ions diffuse across membrane to dialysis fluid therefore being removed from the blood. blood cells and proteins don’t leave the blood

Question 5

what are the pros and cons of renal dialysis?

Answer 5

• feel unwell between dialysis sessions due to the build up of waste in the blood
• sessions are long (3-5 hours) and are needed 2 or 3 times a week in hospitals
• expensive and inconvenient
• can keep person alive until transplant is available
• less risky than transplant surgery