Specialty Area: Nephrology
Description of Specialty: Nephrology involves the diagnosis and treatment of medical
diseases of the kidney, body fluids and electrolyte disorders.
1. Diagnosis: Proteinuria and the Nephrotic Syndrome
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- Will my activities or lifestyle be affected and for how long?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- What type of tests will be needed and what is an IVP, an ultrasound examination and a
renal biopsy?
- Do the medicines used to treat this condition cause other problems?
2. Diagnosis: Hematuria
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- What type of tests will be needed and what is an IVP, an ultrasound examination and a
renal biopsy?
- Why will a urologist be needed?
- Could this be cancer?
3. Diagnosis: Acute Renal Failure
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I need a special diet?
- Will I have to have kidney dialysis treatments and, if so, what does this involve?
- If I am making a lot of urine, how can my kidneys not be working?
4. Diagnosis: Chronic Renal Failure
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- Will my activities or lifestyle be affected and for how long?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- Will I have to have kidney dialysis treatment and, if so, what does this involve?
- Will I need to have a kidney transplant and, if so, what does this involve?
- If I am making a lot of urine, how can my kidneys not be working and if I am anemic,
will I need blood transfusions?
5. Diagnosis: Glomerulonephritis
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- What type of tests will be needed and what is an IVP, an ultrasound examination and a
renal biopsy? Will this go away completely?
6. Diagnosis: Pyelonephritis
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- How can I keep this from happening again?
7. Diagnosis: Interstitial Kidney Disease
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- What types of tests will be needed and what is an IVP, an ultrasound examination and a
renal biopsy?
- What can be done to prevent further damage?
8. Diagnosis: Kidney Disease in Diabetes
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness?
- Can this illness be treated?
- Can I be cured or will this illness return?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- If I follow this diet and take my medicine, will my kidneys get better?
9. Diagnosis: Kidney Disease in Hypertension
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness return?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- If I follow my doctor's recommendations for diet, weight loss, exercise and take my
medicines regularly, will my kidneys get better?
10. Diagnosis: Kidney Disease in Lupus
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- What types of tests will be needed and what is an IVP, an ultrasound examination and a
renal biopsy?
11. Diagnosis: Hyponatremia and Hypernatremia
- Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- How can I keep this from happening again?
12. Diagnosis: Hypokalemia and Hyperkalemia
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious?
- Can I be cured or will the illness come back?
- Will I have to have kidney dialysis treatments and, if so, what does this involve?
- How can I keep this from happening again?
13. Diagnosis: Hereditary Diseases of the Kidney
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Is it serious and can it be treated?
- What types of tests will be needed and what is an IVP, an ultrasound examination and a
renal biopsy?
- What are the chances of others in my family, especially my children, getting this and
should they be tested?
14. Diagnosis: Nephrolithiasis
Questions that should be asked:
- What is this illness and how is it caused?
- Can I be cured?
- What will the treatment consist of and will I require a special diet?
- What types of tests will be needed and what is an IVP, an ultrasound examination and a
renal biopsy?
- What can I do to keep this from returning?
Herbert Lubowitz, M.D. Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Medicine Washington
University School of Medicine St. Louis, MO