Nephrology

Nephrology specialists diagnose and treat kidney diseases, and care for patients requiring kidney replacement therapy, also known as renal replacement therapy, including dialysis and kidney transplant patients. Many diseases affecting the kidney are systemic disorders, which are conditions or illnesses that affect more than one part of the body, like high blood pressure. These disorders may require treatment from more than one specialist.

 Reasons patients are referred to nephrology specialists include:

• Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infections 
• Electrolyte disorders or acid/base imbalance
• Hematuria, blood loss in the urine
• Hypertension, or high blood pressure, that has failed to respond to multiple forms of anti-hypertensive medication or could have a secondary cause
• Kidney stones, usually only recurrent stone formers
  
• Proteinuria, the loss of protein especially albumin in the urine

For more information on the MultiCare Nephrology Clinic, call 253-697-4740.