A
The part of the body that contains the internal organs between the pelvis and the chest cavity.
A means to get into the body. Accesses to the bloodstream for hemodialysis are fistulas, grafts, etc. Access to the peritoneal cavity for peritoneal dialysis is a catheter.
Medicine used to treat high blood pressure. ACE inhibitors can also help prevent or slow kidney damage.
Rapidly developing; severe; short duration.
A sudden and severe decrease in kidney function that may be short term.
An unexpected and undesirable reaction to a drug or treatment that may be serious or life threatening.
A protein in blood plasma that acts as a carrier and helps to maintain blood volume and blood pressure.
A condition in which albumin is present in the urine. There are filters in the kidneys that prevent large molecules, such as albumin, from passing through. If these filters are damaged, albumin passes from the blood into the urine.
A disorder marked by deposition of specific proteins (amyloid) in the body and alternate its functioning.
A condition in which there is a reduction of red blood cells.
Medication used to kill bacteria and fight infection.
Protein that is made by the immune system, the body's defense mechanism, to attack substances that are not normally part of a person’s body—for example, bacteria or toxins.
Medication that delays or stops the clotting of blood, such as Coumadin or heparin.
The process of preventing the blood from clotting. It can be done by medication, such as heparin.
A toxin or other foreign substance that causes a person’s body to create an immune response.
Medication that lowers blood pressure.
A chemical that stops growth and reproduction of bacteria and viruses, but doesn’t necessarily destroy them as a disinfectant would.
A condition in which a person stops making urine.
A tube that carries blood away from the body into the artificial kidney.
An age-related condition in which the arteries become stiff and calcified.
Also called an AV fistula. Surgical connection of an artery directly to a vein, usually in the forearm, created in patients who will need hemodialysis.
A blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart to other parts of the body
A filtering device that is used to remove excess fluid and waste products from the body. Also known as a “dialyzer” or a “hemodialyzer.”
Practices that reduce the risk of infections
B
Single-cell organisms, capable of rapid reproduction. They are present everywhere. Some are harmless, while others are known to produce infectious diseases.
A procedure in which a tiny piece of a tissue from a body part, such as the kidney or bladder, is removed for examination under a microscope by a pathologist.
A muscular, elastic inside the body that stores the urine.
The rate at which the patient’s blood is pumped through the artificial kidney during dialysis.
A type of human blood. Blood groups are classified by the ABO system (A, B, AB and O). In any of the 4 ABO groups, a person can be RH positive or RH negative, meaning that a person can be classified as one of the 8 possible types (O+, O-, A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+ or AB-). Classifying blood type is important for working out compatibility for blood transfusions and organ transplantations.
The pressure blood exerts on the walls of the blood vessels. This is expressed in 2 numbers, such as 120/80. The systolic (top) number is the pressure when the heart is contracting and the diastolic (bottom) number is the pressure when the heart is at rest.
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.
A way to measure the combination of waste products (nitrogen and urea) in the blood normally excreted by the kidneys.
The tubes that take blood around the body.
The tubing set that carries the blood from the patient to the machine and back to the patient.
The sound produced by the blood flowing through a blood vessel, as well as through a fistula, graft or shunt.
C
See deceased donor.
A chemical that is important for bone growth and formation, blood clotting, nerve and muscle functioning and the activation of certain enzymes.
Anything to do with the heart.
l diseases and conditions of the heart and blood vessels, including heart attack, heart failure, stroke, blockages in the blood vessels and vascular kidney disease.
A flexible, hollow tube through which fluids enter or leave the body. For peritoneal dialysis, a catheter is placed by a doctor in the abdomen (peritoneal cavity). For hemodialysis, a venous catheter may be placed in the neck, chest or leg as a short-term solution.
Also called plastic needle. Catheter needles are designed to reduce the risk of vascular complications while enabling greater patient mobility during dialysis.
A naturally occurring, waxy substance made by the body. It is an essential building block of cell membranes, hormones and vitamin D. Too much cholesterol in the blood can cause clogging of the arteries and can lead to cardiovascular disease.
Persisting for a long period of time or recurring often.
A term used widely to describe kidney damage or reduced kidney function (regardless of the cause) that persists for more than 3 months. Sometimes CKD leads to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to keep a person alive.
Damage to the kidneys that is usually progressive in nature and cannot be reversed, reducing the filtration and waste removal functions of the kidneys.
Citrasate™ - Ready to use liquid acid concentrates that contains 0.8 mmol/l of citric acid and 0.3 mmol/l of acetate, instead of the traditional 3 mmol/l of acetic acid contained in standard acid concentrates.
Containing dialysate might improve dialysis efficiency, anticoagulation, calcification propensity score, and intradialytic hemodynamic stability.
The rate that substance in the blood is removed through dialysis, expressed in milliliters per minute.
The process of forming a blood clot.
The relative amount of a particular substance contained within a solution or mixture or in a particular volume of space.
A condition in which the body is overloaded with fluid, causing the heart to pump less effectively. Congestive heart failure may result in excess fluid in the lungs.
Allowing microorganisms to contact a sterile area, making the area unsterile and creating the potential for infection.
A form of dialysis in which dialysate drains into and out of the peritoneal cavity by gravity several times a day.
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.
A process in which carried across a membrane or filter by the movement of fluid. This works kind of like a coffee maker.
One of the many waste products in the blood that is produced by normal tissue breakdown and removed by the kidneys or by dialysis in patients with renal failure.
A sample of organisms taken from a site to identify the specific organism that is causing infection.
D
The loss of too much body fluid through excessive urinating, sweating, diarrhea or vomiting.
A chronic disease caused by problems with the production and/or action of insulin in the body.
The medical name for kidney disease caused by diabetes.
A solution consisting of water and chemicals (electrolytes) that passes through the artificial kidney to remove excess fluids and waste products from the blood. Also called “dialysis fluid.”
Therapy that cleans the body from waste substances and excess fluids by filtering them from the blood through a semipermeable membrane.
(see “dialysate”)
(see “artificial kidney”)
The “bottom” number in a blood pressure reading (120/80), the blood pressure when the heart rests.
Passage of particles from a solution of high concentration to a solution of low concentration, resulting in an even distribution of particles.
An agent that kills most microorganisms, like bacteria and viruses.
A type of medicine that helps the body get rid of extra fluid through kidney and urine. Having too much fluid in the body can raise blood pressure.
A person who gives a body organ, such as a kidney, to another person. For kidneys, the donor can be living or deceased
The weight of a dialysis patient when excess fluid has been removed. Also known as “ideal weight.”
E
Swelling or puffiness due to buildup of excess fluid in the tissues, which is most noticeable in ankles, hands and face. It occurs in dialysis patients as a result of excess fluid intake or decreased ultrafiltration.
The filtered fluid containing waste products and excess fluid removed from the patient’s blood.
Chemicals in body fluids including sodium, potassium, magnesium, and chloride.
State-of-the-art dialyzer, designed for both HD and HDF, a cutting-edge Polyethersulfone membrane for enhanced survival, lower inflammation, and superior endotoxin retention—all while being not made with BPA.
A novel medium cut-off dialyzer, yielding optimal removal performance of middle size molecules.
Total and permanent kidney failure. When the kidneys fail, the body retains fluid and harmful waste builds up. A person with ESRD needs treatment to replace the work of the failed kidneys.
A body chemical (hormone) mainly made by the kidneys that causes the bone marrow to make red blood cells. A lack of this hormone can cause anemia.
A test to measure how well the kidneys are cleaning the blood, which helps to determine the stage of kidney disease. eGFR is reported in milliliters per minute and is usually estimated from the results of the creatinine blood test along with age and gender.
The process of changing used dialysate for fresh solution in peritoneal dialysis.
The area where the needles enter or exit through the access. Also, where a peritoneal dialysis catheter or subclavian catheter exits the skin.
F
A type of access that is created by surgically joining an artery and a vein so that the vein enlarges due to the flow of arterial blood.
The amount of fluid intake that is permitted each day by the patient, which is usually set by a doctor.
The point at which extra fluid in the body causes edema, difficulty in breathing or extra strain on the heart.
(see “edema”)
G
(see “estimated glomerular filtration rate”)
Inflammation of the glomeruli, the kidneys’ filters.
A tiny set of blood vessels in the nephron.
A small device that is used to test blood sugar levels and can be used at home.
The main sugar found in blood. The body turns many foods into glucose. This is the body’s main source of energy.
A small, chewable tablet made of glucose. If a person’s blood sugar drops too low, they can take a glucose tablet to bring it back up to a healthy range.
The surgical placement of a material between an artery and vein to create a circulatory access for hemodialysis.
H
The ratio of red blood cells to total blood.
A condition in which blood is present in the urine. Blood that is visible in the urine is called gross hematuria. Blood that cannot be seen by the naked eye and can only be seen when examined by a microscope is called microscopic hematuria.
The removal of excess fluids and waste products by passage of blood through an artificial kidney.
(see “artificial kidney”)
The protein portion of the red blood cell, which carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body’s tissues.
A “blood thinner,” or anticoagulant, that is given in hemodialysis in order to prevent blood from clotting in the lines or dialyzer.
Inflammation of the liver caused by virus, bacteria, toxic agents or medication.
Also called “good cholesterol”. HDL carries cholesterol to the liver where it can be removed from the blood. An HDL level of more than 40 is considered good. An HDL level of more than 60 is even better.
A natural chemical produced in one part of the body and released into the blood to trigger or regulate particular functions of the body. The kidney releases 3 hormones: erythropoietin, renin and an active form of vitamin D that helps regulate calcium for bones.
High blood pressure.
Low blood pressure.
I
(see “dry weight”)
The body’s system for protecting itself from viruses and bacteria or any foreign substances.
A drug that suppresses the body’s immune response. It is given to transplant recipients to help prevent rejection of the transplanted kidney.
The invasion of the body by disease-producing organisms and the reaction of the body’s tissues to their presence.
Heat, redness, swelling and pain that can be present in parts of the body or throughout the body; inflammation is usually a result of infection or irritation.
An essential hormone that helps a person’s body turn the sugar they’ve eaten into energy. In case of diabetes, the body either can’t make insulin and/or becomes resistant to insulin.
Being within a vein.
K
One of two bean-shaped organs located at the back of the abdominal cavity, one on each side of the spinal column. Kidneys maintain the body’s chemical balance by excreting waste products and excess fluid in the form of urine.
Permanent damage to the kidneys. The most common causes are diabetes and high blood pressure. If left untreated, kidney disease can lead to kidney failure.
When the kidneys don’t work well enough to clean the blood. Someone with kidney failure will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to live.
A stone that develops from crystals that form in urine and build up on the inner surfaces of the kidney, in the renal pelvis or in the ureters.
When a healthy kidney from a person is placed in someone else whose kidneys have failed. A kidney transplant can come from a living donor or from someone who has just died.
1,000 grams; 1 kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds.
Clearance x time / volume. Indicates how well waste products have been removed by dialysis using urea clearance as a marker.
L
Fatty substances, including cholesterol and triglycerides that are present in blood and body tissues.
The basic unit of volume measurement in the metric system, approximately equal to a quart.
A person who donates an organ while they are still alive.
Also called “bad cholesterol”. A high LDL level puts a person more at risk for kidney disease, heart disease and stroke. A normal LDL level is generally less than 100.
M
A thin layer of tissue or material, usually an outer layer or lining of organs or group of organs.
The physical and chemical changes in your body that produce and use energy.
Inorganic substances that are necessary for normal body function, but are toxic in high concentrations.
(noun) An electronic device that is used to check, remind or warn. (verb) Watching patients during their treatments or checking the adequacy of treatments over time.
N
The feeling a person experiences when they have an upset stomach.
The surgical removal of a kidney.
A doctor who specializes in kidney disorders.
Any disease of the kidney.
A unit of the kidney that maintains the body’s chemical balance. There are approximately one million nephrons in each kidney.
A collection of symptoms that indicate kidney damage. Symptoms include high levels of protein in the urine, a lack of protein in the blood and high blood cholesterol.
Any disease of the nerves.
O
(see “edema”)
A collection of tissues that structurally form a functional unit specialized to perform a particular function, , such as the kidneys, heart, lungs and liver.
Movement of fluid through a semipermeable membrane to achieve equal concentration on both sides of the membrane.
A chemical that combines with calcium in urine to form the most common type of kidney stone (calcium oxalate stone).
P
The physical symptom a patient feels due to arrhythmia, an irregular beating of the heart.
Small glands located in the neck that produce a hormone that is necessary to regulate calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood.
Inflammation of the pericardium, the sac-like structure surrounding the heart.
A form of dialysis in which the lining of the abdomen, the peritoneal membrane, acts as a natural filter.
The smooth, semipermeable membrane that covers the abdominal organs and lines the abdominal cavity.
Medications that bind with dietary phosphorus in order to eliminate the phosphorus from the body, which helps keep calcium and phosphorus levels in balance for dialysis patients.
An element that is necessary for normal body functions, especially bone formation.
A hereditary disease that involves the growth of cysts on kidney tissue.
An element that is needed by the body for normal muscle and nerve function as well as cell maintenance.
Groups of nitrogen-containing compounds found in the body that are essential to life.
The presence of too much protein in a person’s urine.
A condition in which a person’s skin is severely itchy.
The throbbing sensation felt in the arteries in time with the heartbeat.
R
A type of blood cell that contains hemoglobin and carries oxygen to the body’s tissues.
Relating to the kidneys. For example, a renal disease is a disease of the kidneys.
Abnormal fluid-filled sacs in the kidney that range in size from microscopic to much larger. Many simple cysts are harmless, while other types can seriously damage the kidneys.
A special diet for dialysis patients to help them stay healthy and feel their best.
Kidney function.
Another name for dialysis or transplantation.
A hormone made by the kidneys that helps regulate the volume of fluid in the body and blood pressure.
S
A material that allows fluids and small particles to flow through it but not larger particles.
An element found in the body that helps regulate the body’s fluid content.
Asymmetric triacetate (ATA) dialyzer enabling heparin reduction and hypo-allergenic therapy.
A narrowing of a blood vessel or other organ.
Totally free from any living microorganisms.
Syndrome caused by ischemia (not enough blood flow) resulting from a vascular access device (such as an arteriovenous fistula or synthetic vascular graft–AV fistula) that was installed to provide access for the inflow and outflow of blood during hemodialysis.
High performance dialysis machine designed for individually optimized treatments.
Semi natural cellulose triacetate dialyzer for patients allergic to synthetic membranes.
The first and highest number in the two-part blood pressure measurement. It measures the highest pressure in the arteries when the heart beats (the heart muscle contracts).
T
A waste product in the blood or any substance that is poisonous.
The replacement of a diseased organ with a healthy one. A kidney transplant may come from a living donor or from someone who has just died.
A type of lipid in the blood. Normal triglycerides are less than 150. High triglycerides can raise a person’s risk of heart disease or kidney disease.
U
A process used to remove excess fluid from the blood during dialysis.
The amount of fluid, measured in liters or milliliters per hour, removed from the patient across the filter to reach dry weight goal.
A technique that bounces safe, painless sound waves off organs to create an image of their structure.
A nitrogenous waste product that is formed during the breakdown of protein in the body.
A percentage that is based on how much blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was removed during a dialysis treatment. It indicates how effectively urea and other waste products have been removed.
The buildup of waste products in the blood due to the inability of the kidneys to eliminate them.
Tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder.
The tube that carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body.
The system that takes waste products from the blood and carries them out of the body in the form of urine. The urinary tract includes the kidneys, renal pelvises, ureters, bladder and urethra.
An illness caused by harmful bacteria growing in the urinary tract.
To release urine from the bladder to outside the body.
A liquid waste product that is filtered from the blood by the kidneys, stored in the bladder and expelled from the body through the urethra by the act of voiding or urinating.
V
Pertaining to blood vessels.
A blood vessel that carries blood from other parts of the body back to the heart.
Referring to veins and the flow of blood to the heart.
A tube that carries blood from the dialyzer back to the body.
W
Substances that are formed from the breakdown of protein in foods and from normal muscle activity.
A type of blood cell that fights infection in the body.