Nephrology

Nephrology is the branch of medicine that deals with the study of the kidneys, specifically normal kidney function (renal physiology) and kidney disease (renal pathophysiology), the preservation of kidney health, and the treatment of kidney disease, from diet and medication to renal replacement therapy (dialysis and kidney transplantation). The word “renal” is an adjective meaning “relating to the kidneys”, and its roots are French or late Latin.

Nephrologists are physicians who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases. They are trained to manage a wide range of kidney conditions, including:

• Acute kidney injury (AKI)
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• Kidney stones
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Kidney failure
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)