Kidney FailureInfo Center

It's in the Genes, Not the Skin
Doctors have noticed that kidneys taken from some African-American donors for transplant don't last as long as kidneys from other donors. However, race may not have much to do with the failure of these organs.
Two Visits Are Better than One
Before someone goes through heart surgery doctors need to evaluate the heart's ability to pump blood. The test performed can be harmful to patients' kidneys. However, researchers found a way that may reduce the risk of kidney damage.
Dye Damages Women's Kidneys
Doctors sometimes use X-ray machines to see if your heart is healthy. A type of dye has to be fed into patients' blood in order for these machines to see the inside of the heart. This dye can cause kidney problems for both men and women.
Weight Loss Drug Doesn't Work
Some obese people take weight-loss drugs to help deal with their health problem. One of these drugs, orlistat, may be harmful.  The drug already carries a black box warning for liver damage, which the FDA added last year.
The Right Diet Can Save Your Kidneys
Changing your diet can help with many different health problems. New research supports this point by showing that patients who eat a certain kind of diet can protect their kidneys from the damage caused by diabetes.
Spotting Kidney Injury Early
The sooner doctors can spot kidney injury, the sooner they can help patients deal with the condition. Researchers have found a new way to spot kidney injury earlier, which may save lives and lead to better results for patients.
Long-Lasting Kidney Transplants
Even after getting a kidney transplant, patients' new kidneys can develop serious, life-threatening problems. The good news is research shows that damage to kidney transplants may be less of a problem than previously thought.
Banning HIV Organ Donation
Researchers from Johns Hopkins believe that a law banning HIV patients from donating their organs to living HIV-positive patients is outdated. If the ban were reversed, hundreds of HIV-positive patients who need an organ could get their transplant within months instead of years.
A Better Kidney Measurement
In a new study, researchers argue that the current way for diagnosing kidney failure in patients with cirrhosis is not accurate enough. Their results show that measures used by the Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) may offer more precise results.
Not Looking Good for Lupus and Kidney Patients
According to findings from two new studies, kidney failure is affecting more and more young people and African Americans. In addition, there hasn't been much improvement in the end results for these patients, especially for children with kidney failure caused by a type of lupus.